Finite element simulation and experimental study on mechanical behavior of 3D woven glass fiber Composite sandwich panels

The results of finite element simulation followed by an experimental study are presented in order to investigate the mechanical behavior of three-dimensional woven glass-fiber sandwich composites using FE method. Experimental load displacement curves were obtained for flatwise compressive, edgewise compressive, shear, three-point bending and four-point bending loads on the specimens with three different core thicknesses in two principal directions of the sandwich panels, called warp and weft. A 3D finite element model is employed consisting of glass fabric and surrounding epoxy resin matrix in order to predict the mechanical behavior of such complex structures. Comparison between the finite element predictions and experimental data showed good agreement which implies that the FE simulation can be used instead of time-consuming experimental procedures to study the effect of different parameters on mechanical properties of the 3D woven sandwich composites. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.