Damage Behaviors of Thin and Thick Laminated Composites Under Ballistic Effect

The damage stages of the ballistic impact effect on both thin and thick laminated composites were investigated. Thin and thick laminated composite plates were produced with unsymmetrical cross-ply [0/90], [–45/+45], and [30/60] layups consisting of 16 and 50 unidirectional layers, respectively. Ballistic tests of the composite plates were carried out by means of a single-stage gas gun system at different velocities in the range from 447 to 861 m/s. The thin composite plates were more damaged than the thick plates at ballistic tests with the same velocity. Relatively small strains were observed at low-velocity impact while the projectile rebounded in all thick specimens. All thick plate specimens, except the plates with [–45/+45] layup, were perforated at high velocity impacts. Tests showed an increase in the shear stress between layers with increasing projectile velocity.