Impact behaviour of composite leading‑edge structures for marine hydrofoil applications

Composite hydrofoil and e‑foil structures are increasingly used in marine transportation, yet their behaviour under impact loading remains poorly characterised. This study presents a systematic experimental investigation of impact behaviour and damage tolerance in composite laminates and leading–edge structures relevant to maritime applications, including the influence of material system, structural geometry, and impactor shape. Three composite material systems, carbon fibre-epoxy, glass fibre-epoxy, and a carbon-Kevlar hybrid were tested in both flat panel and leading–edge geometries. Low velocity impact tests were performed at energies from 11-36 J followed by ultrasonic C–scan or X–ray computed tomography (XCT). Residual compressive strength was assessed using a modified compression–after–impact (CAI) fixture. Material system, geometry, and impactor shape strongly influenced impact response. Carbon-fibre laminates exhibited the highest stiffness and residual strength, carbon-Kevlar hybrids showed reduced internal damage, and glass-fibre laminates displayed more compliant behaviour. Curved and reinforced leading‑edge configurations significantly improved impact tolerance and reduced delamination, demonstrating that structural reinforcement and material selection play a critical role in governing damage severity and tolerance in composite hydrofoil applications. The findings of this work can contribute to broader research focused on the development of safe, durable, and lightweight composite structures for energy efficient marine transportation.