A comparative study on the impact resistance of composite laminates and sandwich panels

Book · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:89825

Ferri, R; Sankar, B V ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States). Dept. of Aerospace Engineering, Mechanics, and Engineering Sciences

An experimental study was conducted to compare the damage resistance and energy absorbing capabilities of graphite/bismaleimide composite laminates and foam-core sandwich panels. Two types of tests were conducted: static indentation and drop weight impact. The load-displacement response and energy absorbed were recorded for static and impact tests. The amount of core compression in sandwich panels was also measured. Damage in the laminates and sandwich panels were assessed by using ultrasonic C-scan, X-radiography, and photo-micrography. The load-displacement responses and damage area obtained from static and impact testing matched very well for the laminates. The static and impact responses for the sandwich panels have the same overall trend, but differ due to the viscoelastic properties of the foam core. Test results show that the sandwich panels can absorb more energy than the laminates and undergo less deflection to absorb the same maximum energy as the laminates. Impact energy above a statically determined threshold level has shown to cause extensive foam core damage.

• OSTI ID: 89825
• Report Number(s): CONF-9409291--; ISBN 1-56676-220-0
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON FIBERS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRACKS
DAMAGE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOAMS
IMIDES
IMPACT TESTS
INTERFACES
PANELS
PHOTOMICROGRAPHY
POLYMERS
PVC
SAMPLE PREPARATION
ULTRASONIC TESTING
X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY