In many engineering applications of composite and laminate materials, damage and failure can be caused by impact of various types. Low-velocity impact is potentially dangerous because it can produce extensive sub-surface delamination that may not be visible on the surface. High-velocity impact produced by projectiles, shock waves and fragments from exploding ammunition is a highly dynamic event, leading to the penetration or perforation of composites. All impact damage is detrimental to the mechanical and structural performance of composites. Accurate evaluation of the damaged state, and a fundamental understanding of the effect of damage upon the resultant properties are therefore essential for the proper design and application of composite materials. The strain-rate dependence of material behavior, fracture propagation and energy-absorbing capacity are also of paramount importance from both the materials science and structural mechanics perspectives.

This book presents a broad view of the current state of the art regarding the dynamic response of composite and sandwich structures subjected to impacts and explosions. Each chapter combines a thorough assessment of the literature with original contributions made by the authors. The first section deals with fluid-structure interactions in marine structures. The first chapter focuses on hull slamming and particularly cases in which the deformation of the structure affects the motion of the fluid during the water entry of flexible hulls. Chapter 2 presents an extensive series of tests underwater and in the air to determine the effects of explosions on composite and sandwich structures. Full-scale structures were subjected to significant explosive charges, and such results are extremely rare in the open literature. Chapter 3 describes a simple geometrical theory of diffraction for describing the interaction of an underwater blast wave with submerged structures. The second section addresses the problem of impact on laminated composite structures with chapters devoted to ballistic impacts on pre-stressed composite structures, tests developed to simulate dynamic failure in marine structures, damage mechanisms and energy absorption in low velocity impacts, perforation, the numerical simulation of intra and inter-ply damage during impact, and hail impact on laminated composites. Sandwich structures with laminated facings are considered in Section 3 with chapters dealing with the discrete modeling of honeycomb core during the indentation of sandwich structures, the behavior of fold core sandwich structures during impact, and impact on helicopter blades. The fourth section consists of two chapters presenting experimental results and numerical simulation of composite structures subjected to crash. This volume is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and engineers interested and involved in analysis and design of composite structures.

Dynamic Response and Failure of Composite Materials and Structures presents an overview of recent developments in a specialized area of research with original contributions from the authors who have been asked to outline needs for further investigations in their chosen topic area. The result is a presentation of the current state-of-the art in very specialized research areas that cannot be found elsewhere in the literature. For example, Massabò presents a newly developed theory for laminated composite plates that accounts for imperfect bonding between layers with new solutions for problems involving thermal effects. This theory is new and computationally-efficient, and the author describes how it fits in the broader context of composite plate theory. Abrate discusses the design of composite marine propellers and presents a detailed derivation of the equations of motion of a rotating blade, including centrifugal effects and the effects of pre-twisting and other geometric parameters. This book is a major reference resource for academic and industrial researchers and designers working in aerospace, automotives, and the marine engineering industry. Presents recent developments in a research field that has experienced tremendous advances because of improved computational capabilities, new materials, and new testing facilities Includes contributions from leading researchers from Europe and the USA who present the current state-of-the-art, including unique and original research Provides extensive experimental results and numerical solutions Appeals to a broad range of professional researchers working in aerospace, automotive, and marine engineering fields