This research investigated the failure behaviors of the composite sandwich structures with face sheet and core debond subjected to compressive loading. Experiments and numerical simulations were co...

Characterizing failure behaviors of debonded composite sandwich structures under compressive loading

Bionano-materials are playing an important role in a number of applications due to their inherent eco-friendly advantages since the last few decades. These materials are being explored as the potential alternatives to traditional synthetic materials for diverse applications with particular emphasis as green reinforcement and offer a number of advantages including considerable toughness, flexibility, easy processing, and recyclability. Indeed, nano-sized materials often display an outstanding equilibrium between toughness and strength and frequently enhanced characteristics of their individual components. The effect of different manufacturing conditions and different surface modification techniques for the bionano-materials as well as their polymer composites is discussed in details. Indeed, bionano-material-reinforced polymer composites are emerging very rapidly as the potential substitute to the metal- or ceramic-based materials in applications including automotive, aerospace, marine, sporting goods, and electronic industries.

/pdf/bio-nanocomposites-from-natural-fibre-derivatives-k6q6ihhlw7.pdf

Bio-nanocomposites from Natural Fibre Derivatives: Manufacturing and Properties

Sandwich structure, bonded with high strength facesheets and light-weighted core material, is commonly used; however the debonding between facesheet and core occurs occasionally during the manufacturing process. This facesheet/core debonding affects the strength of sandwich structure. In this study, the bending strength of centrally-debonded composite sandwich beam was investigated using Taguchi's method. Composite sandwich beams, made of graphite/epoxy laminate as facesheet and MWNTs/epoxy nanocomposites as core material, with a central facesheet/core debond and under four point bending, was analyzed by experiment and using finite element method. The Taguchi's method was used to obtain the optimal bending strength based on three parameters, i.e., the centrally-debonding length, the fiber orientation of the facesheet laminate and MWNTs content in core. The results showed that the optimal bending strength occurred for 50 mm (shortest) debonding length, [0/45]s fiber orientation of the facesheet laminate and 2 wt% (highest) MWNTs content in core for the cases considered.

/pdf/bending-strength-analysis-of-centrally-debonded-composite-3dqugnphak.pdf

Bending strength analysis of centrally-debonded composite sandwich beam using taguchi method

Sandwich structure, with high specific strength, high specific stiffness facesheet and light-weighted core material bonded together, is one of commonly used composite structures. During the manufacturing process, it is possible to have debonding between facesheet and core. This facesheet/core debonding affects the mechanical property and strength of sandwich structure. In this study, sandwich beams are made of graphite/epoxy laminate as facesheet and MWNTs/epoxy nanocomposites as core material. The composite sandwich beam, with a central facesheet/core debond and under four point bending, was analyzed by the finite element method. The length of the debonding layer, the fiber orientation of the facesheet laminate and MWNTs content in core were varied to assess their effects on the bending behavior and the strengths of the centrally-debonded sandwich beams.

Yu Wen Chiu

Papers

Finite Element Analysis of Centrally-Debonded Composite Sandwich Beam under Four Point Bending