Damage tolerance analysis of impacted composite structures subjected to multiaxial loadings

International audienceThe development and certification of aeronautical composite structures is still largely based on the pyramid of tests. This approach requires a large number of tests going from the coupon to the full-size aircraft. To reduce the associated costs, predictive modelling methodologies are developed in several research centers [1]-[4]. Out of plane stresses emanating from impacts are well known to be critical for the residual compressive strength of laminated composites. To design composites structures, engineers use a damage tolerance approach following standards of low velocity impact and compression after impact tests [1], [2]. These standardized tests do not represent real structural loadings because of their conservative uniaxial boundary conditions that do not allow post-buckling failures. In this work, medium-scaled specimens are impacted at medium velocities with a gas launcher then multi-axially loaded in order to analyze interactions between impact damage and postbuckling