Experimental study of low velocity impact response of composite honeycomb core sandwich beams.

Abstract

The aim of this research is to investigate the low-velocity impact response of different types of sandwich beams. The test beams were subjected to low- velocity impact loading using drop mass setup, at three energy levels. The data were collected for each specimen, which included time, force, deflection, and energy.

 The absorbed energy was evaluated and compared for different types of sandwich beams. Qusi-static tensile and flexural tests were performed to obtain the mechanical properties of the face sheets and the core. The results showed that the specimens with face sheets of fiber at 90º had the maximum peak impact force and deflection, while the specimens with face sheet of random fiber had the minimum peak impact force and deflection. Concerning the absorbed energy, it was maximum in the specimens with random fiber face sheets and minimum in the type with unidirectional fiber 90º face sheets.