Experiments and simulation of low-velocity impact characteristics on carbon fiber composite lattice core sandwich structures

Since composite sandwich structures are susceptible to low-velocity impact damage, a thorough characterization of the loading and damage process during impact is important. In the present paper, the low-velocity impact response of carbon fiber composites lattice structures is investigated by experimental and numerical methods. Impact tests on composite plates are performed using an instrumented drop-weight machine (Instron 9250HV) and a new damage mode is observed. A three-dimensional finite element model is built by ABAQUS/Explicit and user subroutine (VUMAT) to predict the peak loading and simulate the complicated damage problem. The numerical predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results.