Low-Velocity Impact in Composite Plates Using the Hashin 3D Criterion and 2D Layer-Wise Theories

The present work investigates the low-velocity impact response of composite laminate plates using the Carrera Unified Formulation for structural modelling, the 3D Hashin failure criterion for damage evaluation, and cohesive elements. 2D structural theories are employed, based on a layer-wise approach, capable of accurate modeling of transverse stresses and delamination. The numerical examples consider three cases, and the results are verified and validated with numerical models and experiments retrieved from the literature. The results show the advantages of the present formulation in reducing computational costs compared to 3D finite elements; the need for parabolic displacement fields within each layer for good accuracy; improvements in the oscillatory behavior of the time response; and the proper detection of damage distributions over the 3D domain.