Characterizing Sandwich Structures Under Hull Slamming Loading Conditions

摘要

The use of sandwich construction is increasing in high speed marine craft due to the high strength to weight capability inherent in sandwich structures. These high speed craft can experience substantial loading at rates much higher than in other sea craft due to the slamming of the hull in rough seas. This hull slamming loading is characterized by periodic yet intense, transient loading. Understanding the fatigue and damage response of sandwich composites to this intense loading is crucial for the design of safe, long lasting marine craft. The objective of this investigation is to analyze and record the evolution of failure mechanisms in sandwich structures due to dynamic high cycle fatigue loading conditions. An experimental facility for simulating the hull slamming conditions has been established. Characteristic loads imparted by a pneumatic hammer along with pulse shaping techniques produce repeatable load pulses simulating hull slamming conditions on panels of sandwich structures of interest such as those with fiber reinforced composite face plates and polymeric foam cores.