Laminated composite plates are susceptible to damage due to low velocity impact of foreign objects under in plane loading. In order to assess the safe load carrying capacity and the probability of failure (Pf) due to low velocity impact, stochastic finite element analysis (SFEA) of composite plate is carried out. An out of plane delamination is modeled using cohesive surfaces. The damage initiation modes such as matrix cracking and delamination are modeled using the limit state function. Uncertainties associated with the system properties due to the inherent scatter in the material properties and input loads are modeled in a stochastic fashion. Random parameters represent various characteristics appearing in the limit state function. The SFEA is carried out using Gaussian Response Surface Method and validity of the method for the present problem is established using Monte Carlo simulation procedure. System Pf is carried out based on fault tree analysis.

Keywords: Low velocity impact, Damage initiation, Stochastic analysis, Reliability.