Imagine this: You are sitting on a plane getting ready to take off and you see a mechanic working on the wing of the plane you are in. The mechanic is making some last minute checks when he or she accidentally drops a wrench on the wing that puts a sizable dent on the surface of the wing. It's instances like this that Compression After Impact (CAI) testing is done. After performing this type of test, a composite manufacturer can fully understand the structural affects that any impact would on a given material.
Performing a CAI test in accordance to ASTM D7137/7137Mdetermines the residual strength of multi-directional composite laminate plates that have been subjected to quasi-static indentation. This particular test requires a CAI Fixture that is designed in accordance to the standard.