Design and evaluation of a novel instrumented drop-weight rig for controlled impact testing of polymer composites

A drop-weight rig (DWR) intended to test the true impact response of laminated composite materials is presented. The test setup is designed to prevent the transfer of unwanted mechanical noise, e.g. vibrations, into the load cell that is used to measure the load during the impact event. A novel catch mechanism preventing secondary impact is also implemented in the DWR design. A detailed evaluation is performed both in terms of the experimental modal and uncertainty analysis of the measured results from the DWR. The results demonstrate that the rig is capable of capturing the true impact response, providing highly resolved and noise-free force-time measurements where even subtle details of the impact event are visible. The rig also enables impact testing with good repeatability.