FE simulation of the effect of stitching on the delamination resistance of composite laminates under low velocity impact

The study examines the effect of stitching on the impact behaviour of cross-ply carbon/epoxy laminates. The impact response ofunstitched and stitched laminates is simulated by FE analyses based on the use of progressive damage models. The results of the numerical simulations are in good agreement with the experimental data in terms ofstructural response and damage size, and indicate that the developed model is capable of capturing the role of stitching in enhancing the impact damage resistance of the laminates