Abstract
This study aims to examine an effect of stacking sequence and curvature on the penetration characteristic of a composite laminated shell. For the purpose, we manufactured specimens with different stacking sequences and curvatures, and conducted a penetration test using an air-gun. To examine an influence according to stacking sequence, as flat plate and curvature specimen had more plies, their critical penetration energy was higher, Critical penetration energies of specimen A and C with less interfaces somewhat higher than those of B and D with more interfaces. The reason that with less interfaces, critical penetration energy was higher is pre-impact bending stiffness of composite laminated shell with less interfaces was lower than that of laminated shell with more interfaces, but bending stiffness after impact was higher. And it is because interface, the weakest part of the composite laminated shell, was influenced by transverse impact. As curvature increases, critical penetration energy increases linearly. It is because as curvature increases, resistance to in-plane deformation as well as bending deformation increases, which need higher critical penetration energy. Patterns of cracks caused by penetration of composite laminated shells include interlaminar crack, intralaminar crack, and laminar fracture. A 0$^{\circ}$ply laminar had a matrix crack, a 90$^{\circ}$ply laminar had intralaminar crack and laminar fracture, and interface between 0$^{\circ}$and 90$^{\circ}$laminar had a interlaminar crack. We examined crack length and delamination area through a penetration test. For the specimen A and C with 2 interface, the longest circumferential direction crack length and largest delamination area were observed on the first interface from the impact point. For the specimen B and D with 4 interface, the longest crack length and largest delamination area were observed on the third interface from the impact point.
