Impact failure in polyester-glass/PVC foam core sandwich structures

Rafał Wojtyra, Krystyna Imielińska 1 Politechnika Gdańska, Wydział Oceanotechniki i Okrętownictwa, ul. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland 2 Politechnika Gdańska, Wydział Mechaniczny, Katedra Inżynierii Materiałowej, ul. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland

Quarterly No. 3, 2007 pages 140-144

DOI:

keywords: laminates, polymer composites, sandwich structures, impact testing

article version pdf (1.28MB)

abstract Impact resistance of glass/polyester-PVC foam core sandwich structures was studied using instrumented impact tests. The efficiency of three face core bonding agents was estimated: the two Scott Bader adhesives (the high density, and the low density) and polyester resin (wet lay-up). The load (deflection-) time plots were analyzed in terms of the threshold load for impact damage and maximum impact load. With the aid of high-speed photography the damage initiation load was found approximately 2.5 kN, independent of the adhesive type compared to 1.21.7 kN obtained in the quasi-static indentation tests. It was found that for low velocity impact loading high density adhesive was the least effective face/core bonding agent since the core crack originated from the adhesive/core interfacial fracture while for the low density bonding agent cohesive fracture occurred. Resin-bonded specimens were most resistant to the development of the face/core fracture.