Effect of ply orientations impact energies and angles on the damage response of GLARE Laminates subjected to impact loading

Abstract This research explores the impact resistance, damage progression and the mechanical behavior of the GLARE 5 − 2/1 composites under low velocity impacts to analyze the response under recurrent loading conditions i.e. varying impact energies, ply orientations, and oblique impacts. The normal impact tests were conducted, at energy levels of 4J, 8J, 10J, and 13J, for both single impact (SI)and double impact (DI) in ABAQUS / Explicit. Subsequently, the oblique impact analysis is performed with the impactor targeting the laminates at angles of 0°,5°,10° and 15°.Specially,the performance of three different laminate orientations in GLARE composites is examined i.e.two unidirectional[\(\:[{0}^{\circ\:}{]}_{4}\)and [90°]4and one cross-ply [0°/90°]s. Through multiple low-velocity impacts, the dynamic behavior and damage evolution of cross-ply and unidirectional laminates were analyzed based on force, energy absorption and displacement responses. The results reveal that [0°/90°]☐ laminates exhibit superior damage tolerance and impact resistance compared to \(\:[{0}^{\circ\:}{]}_{4}\)and [90°]4 orientations. Cross-ply in GLARE effectively dissipates energy with minimal internal damage. The unidirectional laminates show higher energy absorption but experience greater fiber breakage and delamination, especially under repeated impacts. Although the initial impacts increase stiffness, progressive degradation occurs with subsequent impacts, leading to reduced stiffness and increased deformation. Oblique impacts show that higher angles reduce peak forces and energy absorption, increasing internal damage due to force redistribution and shear deformation. The comparative analysis with experimental results shows good conformity with variations ranging from 0.88% to 13%. This research can find its applicability in industries focusing on impact resistance and material durability for design and performance optimization.