Damage and energy absorption in GFRP laminates impactedat low-velocity: indentation model

Low-velocity impact tests were carried out on glass-fibre-reinforced plastic panels, varying the impact energy, laminate thickness, and tup diameter. A previous model, aimed at the prediction of indentation as a function of impact energy, was slightly modified, to establish a correlation of the dent depth with absorbed energy. Good agreement was found between the theoretical predictions and experimental results. Further, the possibility to resort to the absorbed energy from an indentation measurement, using a single curve valid whichever the laminate thickness and impactor diameter, was demonstrated. Analyzing previous experimental data, concerning carbon-fibre-reinforced plastics, the different behaviour of GFRP and CFRP in absorbing energy and undergoing indentation was revealed. New results about basalt fibre laminates based on a limited number of experimental tests were reported too.