MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL SANDWICH COMPOSITES WITH EMBEDDED LITHIUM-ION POLYMER BATTERIES

摘要

Multifunctional composites that combine high load-bearing properties with high electrical energy storage capacity have potential application in next-generation hybrid and electric vehicles. The effect of high structural bending loads on the flexural properties and electrical energy storage capacity of sandwich composites containing lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) batteries embedded within the polymer foam core is explored in this paper. Three-point bend tests which induce failure by cracking of the core are performed on sandwich composites containing single or multiple LiPo batteries. The bending properties of the sandwich material are not changed significantly by embedding batteries within the core. The energy storage capacity of the sandwich composite can be increased by inserting multiple batteries without adversely affecting the bending properties. Furthermore, the internal electrical resistance and capacity of the batteries is not degraded when sandwich composites are damaged by high bending loads.