Experimental Comparison of Impact Behavior in Thin Carbon Fiber Reinforced and 3d Printed Polymeric Plates

This study presents a comparative investigation of the low‐velocity impact behavior of thin plates made from carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), polylactic acid (PLA), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Plates with nominal thicknesses of 0.5 and 5 mm were subjected to standardized drop‐weight impact tests to evaluate their energy absorption capacity, failure modes, and structural response under dynamic loading. The experimental results indicate significant differences between the three materials: CFRP plates demonstrated superior impact resistance and energy absorption efficiency, attributed to their layered fiber structure and brittle failure behavior, while PLA specimens exhibited earlier failure through plastic deformation and crack propagation. The ABS specimens did not exhibit any visible cracks at an impact energy of 2 J, indicating a high capacity for plastic deformation without the immediate occurrence of cracking or fracture. To investigate the failure threshold of the material, the tests were repeated at an increased kinetic energy of 8 J. This step aimed to determine the failure mode and the upper energy absorption limit of the ABS material under intensified dynamic loading. The absorbed impact energy per unit thickness was analyzed to isolate and highlight the intrinsic material behavior, minimizing the influence of thickness variation. Finite element analysis models were developed to simulate the impact response of the tested specimens. The study provides valuable insights for material selection in the design of lightweight structures exposed to low‐velocity impact, with potential applications in aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics industries.