Abstract
The paper investigates the penetration mechanics of thick-section composites. For this purpose, a series of quasi-static penetration tests on Kevlar 29 (plane wave) /epoxy panels with a nominal thickness of 6.5 mm (14 layers) were designed and conducted. The experiments were performed at different support spans using a blunt geometry for the punch. During the tests, the punch displacements and the applied force on the punch were measured.
Finite element (FE) models were created to replicate the quasi - static punch test using the LS-DYNA solver and exploiting a material damage model that allows the reproduction of all the different types of failure occurring during the tests (fibre failure, matrix failure, delamination). The focus is placed on the capability of the model to mimic the experimental damage in order to have a reliable virtual tool able to provide, with high accuracy, the penetration mechanisms and the trend of the absorbed energy during the different phases of penetration. The comparison between experimental data and numerical results is discussed.