Abstract
This paper discusses the analytical and numerical results for the impact responses of two types of plates with equal areal weights: hybrid laminated composite plates and homogeneous metallic plates. The loadings and the boundary conditions for the two types of plates are the same, and an impact load was applied at the center of each plate. An analytical solution based on Fourier expansion was developed to obtain the impact responses of the plates. The finite element method (FEM) was used to perform numerical analyses to verify the analytical solutions. The response patterns from the results were compared and a preliminary conclusion made on the impact resistance ratio between the hybrid laminates with proper interfacial bonding and that of equivalent homogeneous metallic plates. The effect of different shapes of pulse on the laminated composites was also examined. Three loading cases were considered, each being a function of time. The effect of different pulse shapes on the impact response was evaluated. Finally, a solution based on shear deformation theory was developed, and the comparison between classical plate theory results and shear deformation theory results indicates that for the problem examined classical plate theory predicts relatively accurate results.