The fracture behavior of sandwich composites with different core densities and thickness subjected to mode I loading at different temperatures

This study investigates the fracture behavior of the marine sandwich composite with a PVC foam core and face sheets of the glass fibre reinforced polymer fabricated by vacuum assisted resin infusion method. The strain energy release rate G _I values (SERR) was obtained by analytical and experimental methods. For testing mode I, Single Cantilever Beam (SCB) test configuration was distinguished in order to prevent crack kinking. The special test apparatus was designed and manufactured for this experimental study. The effects of core density and core thickness on the fracture behavior of the sandwich composites at different temperatures were examined. The effects of four different temperatures (0, 23, 40 and 60 °C) on two core densities (80 and 130 kg m⁻³) and three core thickness (15, 20 and 25 mm) were studied under the fracture behavior concept. Finite element model was used for modeling the structure. ANSYS 15 was utilized to simulate mode I delamination and mechanical properties of face sheets and PVC foam obtained experimentally were used in the model. The SERR value was calculated using the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). Reasonably good results were obtained between analytical and numerical methods. (paper)