The impact responses of a patch-repaired carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) specimen under double impacts were compared to study the damage interference mechanism through the combination of experiment and numerical analysis. A three-dimensional finite element model (FEM) with iterative loading based on continuous damage mechanics (CDM) and a cohesive zone model (CZM) was employed to simulate the double-impacts testing with an improved movable fixture at an impact distance of 0 mm-50 mm. The influence of impact distance and impact energy on the damage interference was explored by mechanical curves and delamination damage diagrams of the repaired laminates. When impactors fell within the range of the patch with an impact distance of 0 mm-25 mm at a low level of impact energy, delamination damage of the parent plate caused by the two impacts overlapped, resulting in damage interference. With the continuing increase in impact distance, the damage interference gradually disappeared. When impactors fell on the edge of the patch, the damage area caused by the first impact on the left half of the adhesive film gradually enlarged, and as the impact energy increased from 5 J to 12.5 J, the damage interference caused by the first impact on the second impact was gradually enhanced.
Keywords: CFRP laminates; damage interference; double impacts; impact position; patch repair.