Three-dimensional braided composite materials have been widely applied to engineering structure manufacturing. It is of a great importance to characterize the impact damage of the three-dimensional braided composite under various temperatures for optimizing the engineering structure. Here we conducted transverse impact deformation and damage of three-dimensional braided composite beams with different braiding angles at room and elevated temperatures. A split Hopkinson pressure bar with a heating device combined with high-speed camera was employed to test multiple transverse impact behaviors and to record the impact deformation developments. The results indicated that failure load, initial modulus, and energy absorption decreased with the increase of temperature, whereas the deformation increased slightly with elevated temperatures. We found that the impact brittle damages occurred earlier and the local adiabatic temperature raised higher when the temperature is lower than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of epoxy resin. While above the Tg, the impact ductile damages occurred later and the local temperature raised lower. The thermal stress distribution along the braiding yarn leads to cracks propagation in yarn direction. Part of the impact energy absorptions converted into thermal energy. In addition, the beam with larger braiding angle has high damage tolerance and crack propagation resistance.
