Numerical and Experimental Studies of High Strain Rate Mechanical Behavior of E-glass/Polyester Composite Laminates

Abstract

Quasi-static ∼10-3 s-1) and high strain rate (∼850 s-1) compression behavior of an E-glass/polyester composite was determined in the through-thickness and in-plane directions. In both directions, modulus and failure strength increased with increasing strain rate. Higher strain rate sensitivity for both elastic modulus and failure strength was observed in the in-plane direction. A numerical model was developed to investigate the compressive deformation and fracture of an E-glass/polyester composite. Excellent agreement was demonstrated for the case of high strain rate loading. Also, the fracture geometries were successfully predicted with the numerical model.