Composite panels are being used in increasing quantities for naval applications due to their high strength to weight ratio and stealth characteristics. However a primary design consideration for naval vessels is the effects of an impulsive load due to a shock loading. Key to the design process is to establish the damage tolerance of the structure involved which entails determining the residual strength and stiffness characteristics after the structure has been subjected to the impulsive load. However, little data exists for the effects of a pressure load on composites caused by a shock loading. In particular, the residual strength and stiffness of such components, which will influence the structural integrity of a naval vessel once they have been damaged by the shock, have received little attention for marine composites. This paper outlines an ongoing research project to investigate the residual strength and stiffness characteristics of a typical composite panel under various levels of both static and impulsive loading.
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