Predicting Impact Damage in Pressurised Glass Fibre Reinforced Pipes

Abstract

This paper presents an impact testing technique in conjunction with a virtual approach for pressurised composite pipe components, focusing on high and low velocity impact (HVI and LVI) energy levels. Gas gun HVI and drop weight LVI impact tests were conducted on as-received, and pre-stressed pipe sections to validate impact damage predictions using finite element impact modelling methods. The modelling employed a statistical method to obtain the upper/mean/lower bound range of input variables for input in the impact prediction model. The study found that fibre breakage and matrix damage/delamination size due to HVI depend on the stress state at the impact surface. Comparing model predictions and HVI and LVI testing for GFRP pipe material, a simple relationship between impact energy in Joules and surface damage/fibre breakage can be derived. This approach could simplify experimental and virtual impact testing, reducing the number of pressurised pipe tests needed for validation.

Keywords: glass fibre composite, GFRP, HVI, LVI, impact, virtual testing, low/high velocity impact, matrix/fibre damaage