Abstract

This paper deals with modelling the effect of low-velocity impact damage upon the vibration response of CFRP laminates through a micro-mechanical description of the induced internal damage. The serial-parallel (SP) continuum approach is used to estimate the map of induced internal damage by considering the micro-structural interaction between the composite constituents and modifying their constitutive performance through a continuum damage formulation. An eigenvalue analysis is then done to determine the modal response of impacted laminates. The validity of the modelling approach to successfully reproduce the vibration response of impacted coupons is assessed through a comparison with an experimental test series conducted on a set of 48 CFRP laminated coupons. The results confirm the ability of the described approach in comparison to competing ones used to reproduce the experimentally observed behaviour.