A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF THE DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURES UNDER CYCLIC AND IMPACT LOADING CONDITIONS

Abstract

Composite structures are increasingly employed in applications where dynamic loads—both cyclic and impact—predominate, yet a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of their performance under such conditions remains absent. This systematic review and meta-analysis therefore aimed to evaluate the peak contact force during low-velocity impact as a primary outcome, and to identify key structural and material factors that govern dynamic response. We conducted a literature search and systematically screened reports for inclusion. From each eligible study, we extracted means, standard deviations, and sample sizes for the outcome of interest. Meta-analytic synthesis was performed using a random-effects model to account for between-study heterogeneity. The pooled analysis revealed a statistically significant effect: the mean peak contact force was lower in the composite structures featuring hybrid facesheets compared to all-carbon facesheet configurations, with a standard mean difference of  and a 95% confidence interval of  (). The associated heterogeneity was moderate (). These results indicate that hybridization of the facesheet—specifically the incorporation of glass fiber layers—substantially reduces the peak contact force experienced during low-velocity impact, likely due to increased energy absorption through controlled fiber breakage and reduced stiffness mismatch. Consequently, the meta-analysis confirms that hybrid layup strategies can effectively mitigate damage initiation in composite sandwich panels under impact loading. This evidence provides a quantitative foundation for designing more impact-resistant composite structures and highlights the need for further experimental studies with standardized test protocols