Drop-weight impact performance of flexible laminated films
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Low velocity impact tests have been performed on flexible laminated films with different layups employing a novel small-scale instrumented drop-weight testing approach.) Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and Polyimide (PI) layers were bonded together using an optically clear adhesive
(OCA) to produce six types of flexible laminated film. An impact performance coefficient (Kt) has been defined to evaluate the impact resistance of the different films, which considers in one relationship the effect of absorbed energy, peak load and impact duration. Following testing, a
lamination based on a TPU/TPU/PI (TTP) flexible film was identified as giving a superior impact performance. Finite element analyses of the load-time and energy-time curves showed good agreement with the experimental results. It has been shown that as the TPU content increases, Kt initially increases and then decreases. The modelling, as well as the experiments, show a maximum value of Kt was
obtained when the TPU volume fraction was approximately 60%. This quantitative design guideline for TPU content and configuration is novel and provides valuable insights for developing impact-resistant protective films. The proposed methodology, combining small-scale drop-weight testing with finite element modelling, represents a new approach for assessing and optimizing flexible laminated films.
(OCA) to produce six types of flexible laminated film. An impact performance coefficient (Kt) has been defined to evaluate the impact resistance of the different films, which considers in one relationship the effect of absorbed energy, peak load and impact duration. Following testing, a
lamination based on a TPU/TPU/PI (TTP) flexible film was identified as giving a superior impact performance. Finite element analyses of the load-time and energy-time curves showed good agreement with the experimental results. It has been shown that as the TPU content increases, Kt initially increases and then decreases. The modelling, as well as the experiments, show a maximum value of Kt was
obtained when the TPU volume fraction was approximately 60%. This quantitative design guideline for TPU content and configuration is novel and provides valuable insights for developing impact-resistant protective films. The proposed methodology, combining small-scale drop-weight testing with finite element modelling, represents a new approach for assessing and optimizing flexible laminated films.
Date Issued
2026-02-15
Date Acceptance
2026-01-17
Citation
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2026, 312
ISSN
0020-7403
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences
Volume
312
Copyright Statement
Copyright This paper is embargoed until publication. Once published the author’s accepted manuscript will be made available under a CC-BY License in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy).
License URL
Identifier
10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2026.111281
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
111281
Date Publish Online
2026-01-18