A Methodology for Evaluating the Progression of Damage in a Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer Laminate Subjected to Vertical Weight Drop Impacts

This study describes a methodology that allows evaluating the behavior of a glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminate impacted by a vertical weight drop, analyzing the damage that occurred inside. The purpose of the designers was, by means of characterization tests of the curing processes, evaluation of the cohesion of a particular laminate, application of vertical tests by weight drops and with the use of the readings of an accelerometer in a single direction, know the trend of how intralaminar breaks in the matrix and interlaminar breaks between layers occur. It is proposed to establish the behavior of the laminate before the tests by analyzing curing times, for after the tests by observations with penetrating fluorescent inks. This allows researchers to know the response of the laminate to the loads imposed on the applied structure. For the tests, prepreg material cured outside the autoclave in an oven was used and qualitative quantification of the damage by observing sections of the tested material infiltrated with penetrating fluorescent ink exposed to ultraviolet light.