Analytical solutions to predict impact behaviour of stringer stiffened composite aircraft panels

This paper aims to develop an analytical method to predict the low-velocity impact response of simply supported stringer stiffened panels. Since the combination of stringer and panel provides aircraft structure with variable thicknesses, significant mathematical modelling is required to predict the transverse impact response of this type of designs. Within this analysis, the effect of variable stiffness distribution due to the stringer presence has been included. The performance of various layups is investigated to find the most suitable combination for panel-stringer laminate under impact loading. Analytical models were developed based on a spring-mass system to predict the dynamic behaviour of the striker-plate domain and, finally, determine the contact force history, which shows the main novelty of this research. Compared with Finite Element results, the model developed proved to successfully predict stringer stiffened composite panels' response with a range of layups and geometry designs under low-velocity impact loading conditions. The analytical results agree with the available data in the literature, and the error is less than 5%.