SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1975
STP33149S

Impact Damage Tolerance of Graphite/Epoxy Sandwich Panels

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The resistance of graphite/epoxy sandwich panels to low energy, foreign object impact damage was studied. Falling weight impact tests were performed on 104 rectangular sandwich panel specimens. The effect of several material, geometry, and loading parameters on damage susceptibility was explored. Damage observed visually was related to residual strength of specimens taken from the impact region, and in some cases, to static indentation tests carried out on companion specimens.

Sandwich test specimens were fabricated with face sheets of graphite or S-glass/epoxy with a 1-in. depth nomex honeycomb core. Fiber type, core density, and laminate orientation were fabrication variables. Drop weight tests were accomplished using a 2-in.-diameter steel ball. Initial and residual static shear strength were measured on notched, four-point bend specimens.

Impact tests showed that graphite sandwich panels are much more susceptible to foreign object damage than S-glass panels. The impact energy required to sustain the same relative damage level was an order of magnitude greater for the S-glass than for the graphite panels. The failure characteristics observed suggest that this is due primarily to the low strain to failure of graphite composites. Local core crushing occurred in all tests, and all but the S-glass panels suffered fiber fracture and permanent indentation at low energy levels. Core stiffness had an observable effect on impact resistance, but other parameters studied did not appear to significantly affect damage tolerance.

An analysis was carried out in which the sandwich panel was represented as an orthotropic sheet on an elastic foundation, and a classical, double Fourier series approach was taken. The load condition was approximated by an influence function technique to effect a constant radius of bending curvature, simulating the region around the drop weight ball. The capability exists to vary the material constants of the face sheet and core to investigate the nature of indentation failure, and to identify factors contributing to impact resistance. Numerical results were obtained for some of the material parameters employed in the impact tests.

Author Information

Oplinger, DW
Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center, Mass.
Slepetz, JM
Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center, Mass.
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Details
Developed by Committee: D30
Pages: 30–48
DOI: 10.1520/STP33149S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4651-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0357-3