Damage analysis for low velocity impacted composite laminates using acoustic emission technique

Characterization of dynamic induced damage is one of the most controversial issues in the application of composite structures. To this aim, Acoustic Emission (AE) technique has been qualified as a robust tool for damage sequence analysis due to its high sensitivity to damage mechanisms. First, AE reference map was created using a couple analysis of Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The low velocity impact tests were then conducted on composite plates. Finally, Impact AE signals were discriminated and the sequence of damage mechanisms during impact process was discovered. As a result, it is concluded that AE method accompanied with the presented method is a new appropriate approach to discriminate damage mechanism sequences in impacted composite specimens.