EXPERIMENT AND PREDICTION OF IN-PLANE LOCALISED CRUSHING RESPONSES OF CF/EP COMPOSITE SANDWICH PANELS UNDER A SEMICIRCULAR INDENTER

摘要

This study investigates the in-plane localised crushing responses of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy (CF/EP) composite sandwich panels under a semi-circular indenter subjected to both quasi-static and dynamic loadings. The in-plane localised crushing behaviours of the CF/EP composite sandwich panels were investigated. It was found that the specimens were prone to lamina bending under quasi-static compression, whilst the specimens failed mostly with fronds fracturing under dynamic crushing. The specific energy absorption (SEA) of the panels under dynamic impact is 25.5% lower than that under quasi-static compression. An energy balance model was adopted to analyse failure mechanisms and energy dissipation. To the model, the geometry of the debris wedge was predicted using an inverse calculation with experimental validation. The results showed that the crush energy was mainly consumed by friction work and bending.