Probabilistic failure analysis of composite beams under ballistic impact

SD. Patel1*, S. Ahmad2* &P. Mahajan2*

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Research Scholar, shiv_dayal_patel@live.com Professor, suhail@am.iitd.ac.in & mahajan@am.iitd.ac.in * Department of Applied Mechanics, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016. India

ABSTRACT The probabilistic analysis takes into consideration the effect of scatter in elastic and strength properties of composite beams and velocity of the impactor. Beam is made up of 24 plies of S2- Glass epoxy placed over each other to optimize the design. These lay-ups are arranged in symmetric and un-symmetric fashion with different angular orientations. The dimensions of the composite beam are 254mm x 25.4mm x 6.35mm. It is clamped at the ends. Dynamic response is obtained using explicit time domain integration approach. General contact model is used to simulate the high velocity impact on the beam. In order to incorporate the uncertainties associated with the random variables, stochastic finite element method is used. Stress inputs used in the failure models are updated depending on their statistical distribution and requisite range to produce the failure surface for reliability assessment. It is carried out by repeated cycles of finite element analysis. The statistical properties and probability distribution of random variables appearing in the limit state function are specified. The limit state function (g(x)) based on the failure criteria is established such that (g(x) 0). Reliability assessment is made using failure criteria proposed by Hashin and Chang-Chang. A part form maximum stress criteria also adopted. Gaussian response surface method (GRSM) is used to predict the Pf for different ply lay-ups arrangement. CONCLUSION Design optimization for ply arrangement in terms of Pf may be achieved form Fig 2 for simply supported and fixed ended beams. For example Pf for fixed ended beam for symmetric cross ply is 99.9% less than that of for symmetric angle ply. Comparative study of failure criteria for different ply arrangements (Fig 1) shows that the Hashin failure criterion is the most sensitive in comparison to the maximum stress and Chang-Chang failure criteria.

Figure 1. Comparative study of failure criteria.

Figure 2. Pf for Chang-Chang failure model.