Numerical simulation of damage evolution on low-velocity impact of glass fiber reinforced aluminum laminates

A numerical methodology including user material subroutine VUMAT (vectorizd user material routine) for composite material, Johnson-Cook flow stress model and surface-based cohesive behavior for interface delamination analysis were carried out to simulate the history of absorbing energy, central deflection and contact force during low-velocity impact of GLARE (glass reinforced aluminun laminates) plate. After the comparison between the experimental and simulative results, the numerical methodology was proved right and feasible. Moreover, numerical simulation had advantages in rounded analysis in the damage of material. The damage progression of fiber reinforced layers, aluminum alloy layers and delamination in GLARE were analyzed, respectively. After comparing and analyzing three kinds of damage evolution and the curve of history of absorbing energy, central deflection and contact force, simulation results show that aluminum alloy layers play an important role in increasing the performance of low-velocity impact for composites material.