Mechanical and impact behaviors of sandwich structures using pur or perforated pmi foam cores with similar bulk densities

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2017-08

Authors

António Torres Marques (Author) FEUP; A. Arteiro (Author) FEUP; P. R. O. Nóvoa (Author) FEUP; V. D. Raposo (Author) Other; J. M. C. F. Silva (Author) Other

Conference proceedings International

Title: ICCM International Conferences on Composite Materials

21st International Conference on Composite Materials, ICCM 2017

20 August 2017 through 25 August 2017

Indexing

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-MBF

Abstract (EN): The use of polymer foams as core materials in composite sandwich structures is currently a well-established practice. Polymer foam properties in general improve with its bulk density, and it is a subject of interest to study ways by which high performance polymer foams can be modified through density reduction without significantly lowering mechanical performance. The present investigation addresses the use of two very diverse polymer foams as core materials, both chemically and with respect to mechanical behaviour. The higher density polymethacrylimide foam was chosen as one with far superior properties to those attained by a foam material with equal density, chemically identical to the low density polyurethane resin rigid foam. The main objective was to determine how detrimental, a machining approach to match bulk densities, would be on bending, and low velocity impact performance as well as on core compression behaviour. The sandwich structures are characterized with respect to three-point bending, four-point bending, and low velocity impact properties. Additionally, bending behaviour was modelled using the Abaqus® finite element software. The face-sheet composition used throughout the work was kept similar to those used by some of the authors in previous works. This enabled a comparison with the behaviour of the previously studied sandwich structure with non-machined polymethacrylimide foam core. Although an effective levelling of densities was not accomplished, nevertheless, the machined foam retained far higher flexural performance. The bending behaviour modelling presents some shortcomings. With respect to low velocity impact behaviour, performance depends on criteria. It is clear that the polymethacrylimide foam based structures show higher damage onset forces and far superior ultimate impact forces. However a performance decision based solely on post-impact residual indentation clearly favours the polyurethane core structure.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific