Response of sandwich structures with pyramidal truss cores under the compression and impact loading

Abstract In this paper, the pyramidal truss core sandwich structures consisting of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) facesheets and aluminum alloy cores were manufactured based on the slot-fitting method. This hybrid concept is to maximize the specific bending stiffness/strength as well as obtain excellent energy absorption ability. Quasi-static compression tests were conducted to get the stress–strain curves and to evaluate the energy absorption mechanism. Low velocity impact tests were carried out to investigate the damage resistance of such structures. The compressive measurements show that the low density aluminum alloy pyramidal truss cores have superior energy absorption ability compared with other lightweight lattice cores. In the impact tests, the failure of matrix cracking, fiber breakage, delamination of CFRP facesheets and buckling of truss members occurred and the extent of damage was significantly affected by the impact site. In addition to experimental testing, finite element models for compression and impact simulations have been developed using ABAQUS software. The numerical results were validated compared with the experimental tests.

[1]  K. Kang,et al.  Wire-woven bulk Kagome truss cores , 2007 .

[2]  Ya‐Jung Lee,et al.  Experiments and simulation of the static contact crush of composite laminated plates , 2003 .

[3]  Steven Nutt,et al.  Compression behavior of micro-scale truss structures formed from self-propagating polymer waveguides , 2007 .

[4]  Haydn N. G. Wadley,et al.  Experiment assessment of the ballistic response of composite pyramidal lattice truss structures , 2008 .

[5]  Hualin Fan,et al.  Experimental research of compressive responses of multi-layered woven textile sandwich panels under quasi-static loading , 2011 .

[6]  John W. Gillespie,et al.  Progressive damage and delamination in plain weave S-2 glass/SC-15 composites under quasi-static punch-shear loading , 2007 .

[7]  K. Kang,et al.  A parametric study on compressive characteristics of Wire-woven bulk Kagome truss cores , 2010 .

[8]  M. Ashby,et al.  Cellular solids: Structure & properties , 1988 .

[9]  Li Ma,et al.  Mechanical behavior of the sandwich structures with carbon fiber-reinforced pyramidal lattice truss core , 2010 .

[10]  Douglas T. Queheillalt,et al.  Pyramidal lattice truss structures with hollow trusses , 2005 .

[11]  Douglas T. Queheillalt,et al.  Mechanical properties of an extruded pyramidal lattice truss sandwich structure , 2008 .

[12]  Alastair Johnson,et al.  Sandwich structures with textile-reinforced composite foldcores under impact loads , 2010 .

[13]  Li Ma,et al.  Fabrication and crushing behavior of low density carbon fiber composite pyramidal truss structures , 2010 .

[14]  Linzhi Wu,et al.  Shear and bending performance of carbon fiber composite sandwich panels with pyramidal truss cores , 2012 .

[15]  Longmao Zhao,et al.  Energy absorption mechanisms of hierarchical woven lattice composites , 2012 .

[16]  Yulfian Aminanda,et al.  Modelling of low-energy/low-velocity impact on Nomex honeycomb sandwich structures with metallic skins , 2008 .

[17]  Longmao Zhao,et al.  Dynamic compression failure mechanisms and dynamic effects of integrated woven sandwich composites , 2014 .

[18]  Alberto Corigliano,et al.  Experimental characterization and numerical simulations of a syntactic foam/glass fibre composite sandwich , 2000 .

[19]  H. Wadley,et al.  Compressive behavior of age hardenable tetrahedral lattice truss structures made from aluminium , 2004, Acta Materialia.

[20]  Howard P. Hodson,et al.  Contribution of vortex structures and flow separation to local and overall pressure and heat transfer characteristics in an ultralightweight lattice material , 2005 .

[21]  Y. Sugimura.  Mechanical response of single-layer tetrahedral trusses under shear loading , 2004 .

[22]  N. Fleck,et al.  Collapse of truss core sandwich beams in 3-point bending , 2001 .

[23]  Wesley J. Cantwell,et al.  The quasi-static and blast loading response of lattice structures , 2008 .

[24]  Haydn N. G. Wadley,et al.  Cellular metal lattices with hollow trusses , 2005 .

[25]  Norman A. Fleck,et al.  Fabrication and structural performance of periodic cellular metal sandwich structures , 2003 .

[26]  H. Wadley,et al.  The compressive response of carbon fiber composite pyramidal truss sandwich cores , 2007, International Journal of Materials Research.

[27]  M. Mahinfalah,et al.  Low velocity impact of combination Kevlar/carbon fiber sandwich composites , 2005 .

[28]  M. Ashby,et al.  Effective properties of the octet-truss lattice material , 2001 .