Behavior of composite sandwich panel under quasi-static indentation load

Abstract

This project presents experimental studies on the quasi-static indentation of a rigid indenter into sandwich panels made of CSM glass/polyester face sheet adhesive to polypropylene honeycomb and polyurethane foam cores. The effects of different parameters such as indenter nose shape (flat, spherical and conical indenter) and boundary condition (solid and framed supporting plates) on indentation behavior were analyzed experimentally. It was found that nose shapes has large influence on the indentation response of the sandwich panels in terms of absorbed energy, indentation at failure and damage area. It was observed that indentation resistance depends on the geometry of the indenter and force contact area. Also effect of the indentation load on the supporting condition was observed. Localised deformation and failure under quasi static indentation load occur in the center of the specimen. It was also found that composite sandwich panel with polyurethane foam has more energy absorb than polypropylene honeycomb core sandwich panel.