Zhang, XiangHounslow, LGrassi, Marcello2011-11-132011-11-132006-12-01X. Zhang, L. Hounslow and M. Grassi, Improvement of low-velocity impact and compression-after-impact performance by z-fibre pinning, Composites Science and Technology, Vol 66, Iss 15, 1 December 2006, Pages 2785-2794.0266-3538http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2006.02.029http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/1350Z-fibre® pinning is a new method of through-thickness reinforcement of laminated composites. This paper presents an experimental test and theoretical analysis on how and why these pins can improve the resistance to impact loading and post- impact compression. Specimens were made of carbon/epoxy T300/914C with nominal thicknesses of 2, 4, and 6 mm. For the specimens tested in this study, z-pinning reduced impact damage area by 19–64% depending on the specimen thickness and impact energy. Experimental results obtained also indicate that z-pins can significantly increase the compression-after-impact (CAI) strength by about 45%. In this paper all of these observations are discussed in the context of theoretical and numerical models that have been developed previously to predict the critical impact force and z-pinning performance in terms of the laminate in- plane stiffness and mode I delamination fracture toughness with the z-fibre bridging effeen-UKArticle