Compressive failure of plain woven composite laminate with low velocity impact damage

The effects of low impact damage on compressive failure behavior of plain woven composite laminates were investigated by C-scan, fracture side face analysis and finite element analysis. The results show that G803/5224 laminate finally fails by shearing and delamination way, and shearing and buckling failure is the final failure mode of G827/5224 laminate. The failure of each kind of laminates with low velocity impact damage is basically in the same way with the intact counterpart. A damage evolution and failure model of plain wove composite laminate was established. The results from the model were consistent with the test results, so it can be concluded that the model can be employed to stimulate the failure process of plain wove composite laminate.