Failure modes of CFRP panels under hypervelocity impact: the effects of strain rate between 1 km/s and 6 km/s

Studying the effects of hypervelocity impacts on structural materials is essential for the aerospace and defense fields. However, there is a paucity of open-source and accessible data in the literature concerning the hypervelocity impact response of CFRP composites. This paper details our results from an experimental research program designed to aid in addressing this limitation by providing extensive data from multiple analysis techniques. This is part of a wider body of research focused on identifying failure modes and their evolution at elevated strain rates. Experimental work on the impact of commercially available CFRP composites at impact velocities between 1000 and 6000 m/s is presented and discussed. This work provides further validation for the response of an aerospace-relevant material to extreme loading conditions, with wider implications for the design and use of these structures in various industries. Preliminary results from optical imaging, HSV capture, SEM, VP-SEM, and target mass loss analysis are included and show a strain rate dependence in the CFRP material studied.