Abstract: According to the standard test method, damage resistance and damage tolerance of composite laminates subjected to quasi-static indentation are studied. Test data such as contact force, indentation depth and indenter displacement are obtained and compressive residual strength of damaged laminates are tested. The relationship between indentation depth vs contact force and residual compressive strength vs indentation depth are studied, damage process subjected to quasi-static indentation and failure pattern under compression are also discussed. The results reveal that initial damage occurs when barely visible indentation can be seen on the surface of laminates. Indentation depth augments obviously as the contact force increases, while the residual compressive strength descends rapidly with the increasing of indentation depth. When the contact force reaches to the maximum value, load-carrying capacity has lost, and large amount of fiber breakage can be seen on the back surface. For laminates with the quasi-static indentation damage, compressive failure pattern is laminates fracture through the damage zone.

Key words: quasi-static indentation, composite laminates, damage resistance, damage tolerance