Behavior of FRP Sandwich Panels under Synergistic Effects of Low Temperature and Cyclic Loading I: Experiment and Numerical Simulation Method

Abstract:

The paper is concerned with using experiments and numerical simulations to study the mechanical performance of a Honeycomb Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (HFRP) sandwich panel at different temperatures, especially at low temperatures coupled with cyclic loadings. All physical tests were performed in a temperature controlled room and used a three-point bending setup where the applied load gradually increased from zero to 36kN. Experimental results show that the stiffness of the panel becomes softer at some lower temperatures. In order to eliminate the influence of the initial conditions, an incremental method was introduced to process the experimental results. This method treated all displacements and strains as zero when applying a load of 4.5kN. Furthermore, the change in stiffness of the panel was obtained through the use of a special equivalent stiffness which involved measuring the change of the stiffness of the panel. After comparing different methods, the composite shell method was used to build finite element models for numerical simulations in ABAQUS. Reduction of moduli and Random Mesh Size Method (RMSM) were employed to simulate microcracking between fibers and matrix and debonding between the core and face sheets, respectively.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 378-379)
• Pages: 102-107
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.378-379.102
• Online since: October 2011
• Authors: Bai Song Du, Zhong Guo Ma, Ling Luo
• Keywords: Debonding, Honeycomb Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (HFRP), Microcracking, Random Mesh Size Method (RMSM), Reduction of Moduli, Sandwich Panel

References

[1] AASHTO. (American Association State Highway and Transportation Officials Standard, 2005).

[2] Dutta P. K., Lampo R. G.: Proceedings of the Third International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, Singapore(1993), pp.339-344.

[3] Dutta P. K., Lopez-Anido R. and Kwon S. K.: International Journal of Materials and Product Technology (IJMPT), Vol. 28(2007), pp.198-216.

[4] Rivera J., Karbhari V. M.: Proceedings of the Eleventh International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, Stavanger(2001), 124-130.

[5] Ma Z., Choppali U., Li, L.: Int. J. Materials and Product Technology, Vol. 28(2007), pp.178-197.

[6] Allen H. G: Analysis and Design of Structural Sandwich Panels (Oxford: Pergamon Press 1969).

[7] Davalos J. F., Qiao P., Xu X. et al.:Composite Structures, Vol. 52(2001), pp.441-412.

[8] Burton W. S. and Noor A.K.: Journal of Engineering Mechanics, Vol. 120(1994), pp.2044-2071.

[9] Zhao Y. H., Weng G. J.: Int. J. Solids Struct., Vol. 34 (1997), pp.493-507.

[10] Zhao Y. H., Weng G. J.: Journal of Applied Mechanics, Vol. 69(2002), pp.292-302.

[11] Chen A., Davalos J. F.: Journal of Engineering Mechanics, Vol. 133(2007), pp.247-256.