Experimental study on the effect of distance between impact and patch repair location in carbon fibre composites

Chai, EYH ORCID: 0009-0005-0243-5483, Wang, WC and Christian, WJR ORCID: 0000-0003-3638-7297 (2026) Experimental study on the effect of distance between impact and patch repair location in carbon fibre composites Journal of Composite Materials, 60 (3). pp. 233-246. ISSN 0021-9983, 1530-793X

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Abstract

A comprehensive study on the impact behaviour of patch repaired composites with different impact locations has been performed. Specimens were impacted at three different locations relative to the patch repair, recreating different impact scenarios that occur in service. For the first time, high-speed digital image correlation was used to reveal impact behaviour of patch repaired composites, including the identification of failure modes. This was further supported through the use of post-impact ultrasonic C-scans. Patch repaired composites were found to improve impact damage tolerance, with a 40% reduction in damage area when impacts occurred directly on the patches. However more failure modes were observed when impacts were close to the repair location, this complexity decreased as impact location was positioned further away from the repair patch. Residual strength for repaired specimens was found to be greater than the pristine specimens, regardless of their impact locations and repair methods, underlining the effectiveness of repair patches. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how repaired structures respond to impact loading, suggesting that patch repair approaches may be overly conservative.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Carbon fibre, impact behaviour, damage mechanics, composite repair
Divisions:	Faculty of Science & Engineering Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Engineering
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	03 Jul 2025 13:07
Last Modified:	28 Feb 2026 01:26
DOI:	10.1177/00219983251359732
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3193534
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