Impact response of graphite/epoxy cylindrical panels

Graphite/epoxy curved cylindrical panels were impacted in the center by an impact machine capable of measuring load during the test. Load, deflection, and strain as functions of time were measured for six symmetric lay-up configurations for impact energies of 0.5-4.5 ft-lb. Damage was produced in all panels for certain impact energies. The extent and location of damage was determined from C-scans and optical microscopy of panel crow sections. An in-house nonlinear finite element code was used to predict the panel deflections and stresses