A Coupled Experimental-Numerical Method Dedicated to the Dynamic Characterization of Composite Braids Under Drop Weight Conditions

Abstract

Bird strike simulation is crucial for designing aircraft blades, but characterizing materials at high strain rates presents challenges. This study presents a Dynamic Tensile Test Device (DTTD) for characterizing composite materials usually used in blades industry. The DTTD, integrated with a drop weight tower, converts kinetic energy into tensile loading, allowing material characterization of any material. In this article, experimental results for aramid/epoxy 2D braids at different angles were obtained and load curves were analyzed. However, the effort is produced by an impact, which generates a shock wave that must pass through the system, resulting in several vibrations that makes the primary results difficult to exploit. To overcome this, a finite element (FE) model of the drop tower system was created for reverse engineering material characterization. This approach enables material characterization and strain rate analysis. Further investigations can explore additional braid angles and refine the modeling techniques.