Work on Low-velocity Impact Properties of Foam Sandwich Composites with Various Face Sheets

Foam core sandwich composites in conjunction with various facings composed of glass, stitching glass, carbon, carbon/Kevlar hybrid, and Kevlar fabric were fabricated by using RTM process; and low-velocity impact performance was studied at three energy levels. This article proposes that the damage extent of foam core sandwich construction may be characterized by the average damage angle, penetration depth, and maximal cracking width. The results show that the foam core samples with Kevlar facing are optimal for the peak load at load versus time plot, the shortest history course and the lowest impact damage extent at 25 J; the range of average damage angle of Kevlar facing samples is biggest at 90-67 degrees, and the range of maximal cracking width and penetration depth of Kevlar facing samples are smallest: one is at 4.5-15.5 mm, the other is at 16.8-18.0 mm at 25, 45, and 70 J.