{"id":12696,"date":"2020-04-22T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/?p=12696"},"modified":"2026-03-26T06:14:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T10:14:38","slug":"high-velocity-impact-on-composites-past-present-and-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/high-velocity-impact-on-composites-past-present-and-future\/","title":{"rendered":"High Velocity Impact on Composites \u2013 Past, Present, and Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 1969, Grumman Aerospace was the first company to successfully introduce advanced composites into a commercial airplane. The boron-epoxy laminated horizontal stabilizer used in the F-14A was 15% lighter and 18% less costly than its metal counterpart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This breakthrough application opened the doors to a new era of material engineering. However, it also sparked the need for more robust testing methods. Until then, composite testing techniques were usually just adapted forms of existing metal or unreinforced plastic testing techniques. However, as companies put more complex parts on higher-performance planes, these testing methods were no longer sufficient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the Impact? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Image<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As\nthese carbon-based composites with a high specific strength came into use, the\nmost critical features were damage tolerance and damage resistance under impact\nloading. This is because these composites were routinely exposed to unplanned\nimpact loading of numerous kinds during the manufacturing process and in\nservice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\nare several categories of impact loading, and all carry unique challenges and\nconsiderations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Low velocity (large mass) \u2013 10 m\/s (22 mph)<\/li>
  2. Intermediate velocity \u2013 10-50 m\/s (22-111 mph)<\/li>
  3. High\/ballistic velocity (small mass) \u2013 50-1,000 m\/s (111-2,230 mph)<\/li>
  4. Hyper velocity impact \u2013 2,000-5,000 m\/s (5,000-11,100 mph)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    In\nthis blog, we will focus on high velocity impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    H<\/strong>igh Velocity Impact Characterization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    As\nfourth generation warplanes were reaching supersonic speeds, high velocity\nimpact characterization became the most important and complicated of the impact\nfailure categories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Image<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    High velocity ballistic impact is highly complex and includes factors such as high pressures, high temperatures, large strains, and high strain rates. Additionally, a wide variety of materials can be involved, all of which interact with one another and are subject to failure and fragmentation. Furthermore, these failure events generally occur during a small fraction of a second. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The role of CAE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    For these reasons, physical testing can be very expensive and time-consuming, while producing limited data. Therefore, it can be extremely advantageous to develop computational methods and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) programs<\/a> that can provide a detailed look into the complicated loadings and material response during an impact event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Engineers can use computer programs to examine a wide range of conditions that cannot be readily tested, such as varied impact velocities and different material properties. They give engineers the ability to rapidly test multiple designs without the costly manufacture and setup of materials to be tested. In addition, these programs can give insight into a part\u2019s behavior and help engineers design ballistic-resistant structures while optimizing for weight and cost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ultimately,\nthe goal of CAE platforms is to provide the design and research engineers with\ncomputational tools capable of designing and analyzing ballistic projectiles,\narmors, and other systems, in an accurate and efficient manner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Zooming In<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    However, the challenge with using CAE tools is that the response of the structural part is governed by the \u201clocal\u201d behavior of the material in the area of the impacted zone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, in a woven composite armor, several different damage and energy-absorbing mechanisms during ballistic impact have been identified. These include the combination of local and global failure mechanisms: <\/p>\n\n\n\n