ASTM D7136/D7136M-07 - 1.10.2007
 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method determines the damage resistance of multidirectional polymer matrix composite laminated plates subjected to a drop-weight impact event. The composite material forms are limited to continuous-fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites, with the range of acceptable test laminates and thicknesses defined in 8.2.

1.2 A flat, rectangular composite plate is subjected to an out-of-plane, concentrated impact using a drop-weight device with a hemispherical impactor. The potential energy of the drop-weight, as defined by the mass and drop height of the impactor, is specified prior to test. Equipment and procedures are provided for optional measurement of contact force and velocity during the impact event. The damage resistance is quantified in terms of the resulting size and type of damage in the specimen.

1.3 The test method may be used to screen materials for damage resistance, or to inflict damage into a specimen for subsequent damage tolerance testing. When the impacted plate is tested in accordance with Test Method D 7137/D 7137M, the overall test sequence is commonly referred to as the Compression After Impact (CAI) method. Quasi-static indentation per Test Method D 6264 may be used as an alternate method of creating damage from an out-of-plane force and measuring damage resistance properties.

1.4 The damage resistance properties generated by this test method are highly dependent upon several factors, which include specimen geometry, layup, impactor geometry, impactor mass, impact force, impact energy, and boundary conditions. Thus, results are generally not scalable to other configurations, and are particular to the combination of geometric and physical conditions tested.

1.5 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text the inch-pound units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

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D883-26a

Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics (Includes all amendments and changes 6/15/2026).

D3171-22

Standard Test Methods for Constituent Content of Composite Materials

D3763-23

Standard Test Method for High Speed Puncture Properties of Plastics Using Load and Displacement Sensors

D3878-26

Standard Terminology for Composite Materials

D5229/D5229M-20

Standard Test Method for Moisture Absorption Properties and Equilibrium Conditioning of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

D5687/D5687M-20

Standard Guide for Preparation of Flat Composite Panels with Processing Guidelines for Specimen Preparation

D6264/D6264M-23

Standard Test Method for Measuring the Damage Resistance of a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Matrix Composite to a Concentrated Quasi-Static Indentation Force

D7137/D7137M-23

Standard Test Method for Compressive Residual Strength Properties of Damaged Polymer Matrix Composite Plates

D7766/D7766M-23

Standard Practice for Damage Resistance Testing of Sandwich Constructions

E4-24

Standard Practices for Force Calibration and Verification of Testing Machines

E6-25

Standard Terminology Relating to Methods of Mechanical Testing

E18-25

Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials

E122-17(2022)

Standard Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or Process

E177-26a

Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods (Includes all amendments and changes 5/14/2026).

E456-13a(2022)e1

Standard Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics (Includes all amendments and changes 4/16/2024).

E1309-00

Standard Guide for Identification of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Matrix Composite Materials in Databases

E1434-00

Standard Guide for Recording Mechanical Test Data of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials in Databases

CMH-17-3G

Composite Materials Handbook, Volume 3--Polymer Matrix Composites Materials Usage, Design and Analysis Available from SAE International (SAE), 400 Commonwealth Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001, http://www.sae.org.

MIL-HDBK-728/1

Nondestructive Testing Available from U.S. Army Materials Technology Laboratory, Watertown, MA 02471.

E2533-21

Standard Guide for Nondestructive Examination of Polymer Matrix Composites Used in Aerospace Applications

MIL-HDBK-787A

Nondestructive Testing Methods of Composite Materials--Ultrasonics

MIL-HDBK-733A

Nondestructive Testing Methods of Composite Materials--Radiography

MIL-HDBK-732A

Nondestructive Testing Methods of Composite Materials--Acoustic Emission

MIL-HDBK-731A

Nondestructive Testing Methods of Composite Materials--Thermography

D792-20

Standard Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement