Numerical and Experimental Studies of High Strain Rate Mechanical Behavior of E-Glass/Polyester Composite Laminates

Quasi-static (∼10⁻³ s⁻¹) and high strain rate (∼850 s⁻¹) compression behavior of an E-glass/polyester composite was determined in the through-thickness and in-plane directions. In both directions, modulus and failure strength increased with increasing strain rate. Higher strain rate sensitivity for both elastic modulus and failure strength was observed in the inplane direction. A numerical model was developed to investigate the compressive deformation and fracture of an E-glass/polyester composite. Excellent agreement was demonstrated for the case of high strain rate loading. Also, the fracture geometries were successfully predicted with the numerical model.