Numerical and experimental investigation of impact on filament wound glass reinforced epoxy pipe

Abstract

Impact on glass fibre reinforced (GFRE) pipes, produced by filament winding, was experimentally and numerically tested. The influence of ring stiffness and impact energy on the residual structural strength was evaluated by testing resistance against implosion due to external hydrostatic pressure. An advanced 3-D finite element (FE) model, based on the combined use of interlaminar and intralaminar damage models, was used for simulating impact events. Puck and Hashin failure theories were used to evaluate the intralaminar damages (fibre failure and matrix cracks). Cohesive theory, by mean of cohesive elements, was used for modelling delamination onset and propagation. Material data for the models were based on commonly measured ply properties. The numerical simulations were able to accurately predict the impact forces and damage development of the experimental impact events. Pipes with high ring stiffness have high resistance to external pressure, but they were found to develop more impact damage and have subsequently less resistance to external pressure when damaged.