Analysis of impact response and damage in laminated composite cylindrical shells undergoing large deformations

The impact behaviour and the impact-induced damage in laminated composite cylindrical shell subjected to transverse impact by a foreign object are studied using three-dimensional non-linear transient dynamic finite element formulation. A layered version of 20 noded hexahedral element incorporating geometrical non-linearity is developed based on total Langragian approach. Non-linear system of equations resulting from non-linear strain displacement relation and non-linear contact loading are solved using Newton-Raphson incremental-iterative method. Some example problems of graphite/epoxy cylindrical shell panels are considered with variation of impactor and laminate parameters and influence of geometrical non-linear effect on the impact response and the resulting damage is investigated.