Experimental results of low-energy drop-weight impact tests on woven-roving E-glass/polyester composites are presented. The eects of specimen thickness, impactor kinetic energy, velocity of impact and laminator are investigated. Damage was observed for all impact energies. The assumption that shear deformation dominates the response gives good agreement with the results. A model assuming a circular delamination area predicts very well the interlaminar shear strength for the 5-ply specimens, but not for the 10 ply specimens. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.