Energy absorption characteristics of stitched corrugated sandwich panels

Abstract

The tailorability of composite sandwich structure with their strength- to- weight ratio interests in all field of crashworthiness application. An investigation of sandwich structure under static and high speed condition will provide useful information for wide variety of applications. In this present thesis, the characteristics of stitched corrugated sandwich panels as an energy absorption mechanism are evaluated, using experimental and numerical methods. Edgewise compression tests under static and dynamic loading conditions are performed on unstitched and stitched corrugated sandwich specimens made of glass/epoxy face sheets and polyurethane foam core. Parameters affecting the instability of specimens under compressive edge loads are studied for different ply orientations, corrugation wavelengths, and ply material. The local buckling phenomena are then characterized for a particular corrugation configuration. The parametric studies of this thesis using experimental methods indicate a strong dependence of the different instability modes on the stitch configuration and the test rate on the sandwich panels. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)