A Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation Technique for Assessing the Compression-After-Impact Strength of Composites Plates

The use of composite materials in primary structural applications is becoming an accepted practice. Unlike structural components comprised of metal, damage due to impact is usually not evident in composite structures. Severe internal damage can result from impacts such as dropped objects, low velocity vehicular collisions, or other sources of impact. It is apparent that a reliable nondestructive technique for assessing impact damage in composite structures is needed if composites are to be used in primary structural components