Abstract
Impact damage in structures made of composite materials is a major concern since such damage can be introduced during the life of the structure, and its mechanical properties can be dramatically reduced as a result. Many efforts have been made in order to predict the damage and residual properties after impact. In the present paper a previously verified model is used in order to evaluate the residual tensile strength of woven fabric laminated composites. The model takes into account the number of plies; the impact energy and the stacking sequence. The effect of the thickness on the residual tensile strength as well as on the impact energy threshold was also examined. The predicted values seem to be a very good approximation of the experimental results. Keywords: Laminate, reinforcement, impact device, residual stiffness, uniaxial tension