Flexural deformation behavior of carbon fiber reinforced aluminium hybrid foam sandwich structure

• Published in: Composites. Part B, Engineering Engineering, 2020-02, Vol.183, p.107729, Article 107729
• Main Authors: Pandey, Ashutosh, Muchhala, Dilip, Kumar, Rajeev, S, Sriram, Venkat, A.N. Ch, Mondal, D.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminium hybrid foam; Carbon fiber; Deformation behavior; Energy absorption; Sandwich structure
• ISSN: 1359-8368; 1879-1069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.107729

Aluminium hybrid foam (HF) core sandwich structures with carbon fiber-cold setting resin as face sheets have been made. The flexural properties and energy absorption of these sandwich structures have been analyzed through three-point bending (3 PB) test. It is found that with the use of a double-layer carbon fiber sheet, the flexural load carrying capacity of the sandwich structure increases up to eight times as compared to that of bare foam (BF) structure. Whereas, the bending stiffness of the structure is nine times to that of BFs and energy absorption is 58% more than that of BF. It is also found that with the increase in foam core thickness the flexural load carrying capacity, bending stiffness and energy absorption capacity of the sandwich structure increases significantly. The specific strength and bending stiffness increase as compared to that of face sheet due to the addition of foam at the core. The deformation behavior of different sandwich structures was analyzed to investigate the different modes of failure during bending. In the present investigation aluminium hybrid foam (HFs) core sandwich structure with carbon fiber reinforced cold setting acrylic resin composite as a face sheet material were produced. The flexural deformation behavior and energy absorption by these structure have been examined through three point bending (3 PB) test. The effect of foam core thickness on the flexural deformation behavior and mechanical properties are also investigated. The identified of different modes of failure during 3 PB test was done. [Display omitted] •HFs with cenosphere reinforcement has been used as core for sandwich structure.•Single and double layer carbon fiber reinforced acrylic resin composite has been used as face sheet of sandwich structure.•3 PB test were conducted; mechanical properties such as peak load, bending stiffness and energy absorption were examined.•Investigated the effect of HFs core thickness and number of layers of carbon fiber on flexural behavior.•Mode of failure of sandwich structures under different conditions has been studied.