Low-Velocity Impact Damage Simulation of Biaxial Warp-Knitted Flexible Composite with Simplified Microstructure Model

In this paper, the low-velocity impact deformation behavior of biaxial warp-knitted flexible composite was investigated. A simplified finite element model (FEM) of the flexible composite is presented. The mechanical parameters used in simulation were determined by experimental test and previous studies. The finite element models were established by ABAQUS/Explicit to explore the stress distribution and damage evolution of flexible composite, and compared with the experimental results. The results show that the low-velocity impact resistance of flexible composites is strongly dependent on the shape of punch. The low-velocity impact resistance of flexible composites increases with the number of yarns contact with the punch. The validity of the finite element model is verified by comparison with the experiment. We expect that the research can provide a reference for the structural design of flexible composites in the field of inflatable materials.