Abstract—A 2D finite element model using ABAQUS has been developed in order to understand the role of nanoclay in enhancing the low speed impact behavior of laminated woven kevlar nanocomposite. The model simulates an impactor as a shell rigid body while the composite samples were simulated in two dimensional model. ABAQUS/Explicit 6.8 was used to simulate the composite samples in this study. The FEM analysis focuses on the stress distribution in the impacted composite samples; the ability of the impactor to penetrate the samples; and the expected failure mode based on the Hashin's theory damage initiation criteria for fiber- reinforced composites. The damage evolution was determined in terms of displacement and/or energy. In the displacement damage evolution, it is possible to define the damage as a function of the total or the plastic displacement after damage initiation. While as, in the energy evolution damage, it is defined in terms of the energy required for failure (fracture energy) after the initiation of damage. The theoretical and experimental results were in good agreement.
Index Terms—FEM modeling, nanocomposite, low speed impact.
Saud Aldajah, Yousef Haik, and Kamal Moustafa are with the Mechanical Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, P. O. Box 15551 Al-Ain, UAE (e-mail: s.aldajah@uaeu.ac.ae)
Ammar Alomar is with the Tawazun Precision Industries, Tawazun Industrial Park, P. O. Box 129862, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
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Cite: Saud Aldajah, Yousef Haik, Kamal Moustafa, and Ammar Alomar, "FEM Modeling of Nanocomposites Low Speed Impact Behavior," International Journal of Engineering and Technology vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 258-261, 2014.
