Dynamic behavior and protective performance of T800 plain-woven CFRP laminates under high-velocity impact

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have attracted considerable attention in the impact resistance field due to their excellent mechanical properties. To investigate the high-speed impact resistance of CFRP laminates, dynamic in-plane and out-of-plane compression tests were conducted on T800-grade plain-weave CFRP laminates. The dynamic mechanical behavior of CFRP materials under high-speed impact was analyzed. Furthermore, high-speed impact tests and numerical simulations were conducted on 4 mm thick CFRP laminates using a single-stage air cannon. The dynamic failure behavior and multi-scale damage mechanisms of the CFRP laminates were analyzed under different velocities and projectile impacts. The results show that CFRP exhibits significant strain rate strengthening under both in-plane and out-of-plane high-speed impact, with out-of-plane compression exhibiting greater impact resistance. Under high-velocity impact, CFRP laminates absorb energy through multiple damage mechanisms, including macroscopic interlaminar cracking, petalling failure on the rear surface, as well as meso-scale fiber bundle tensile-shear coupling damage and matrix crushing. The energy absorption generally increases first and then decreases with the increase of bullet impact velocity. For flat-nosed bullets, the failure of the laminate is mainly caused by fiber bundle tensile-shear coupling failure, with a ballistic limit of 151.57 m/s and a maximum energy absorption of 53.28 J. For spitzer bullets, the failure is mainly caused by annular shear failure, with a ballistic limit of 140.94 m/s and a maximum energy absorption of 47.99 J. The protection effect of flat-nosed bullets is better than that of spitzer bullets.