Modelling of Honeycomb Core Sandwich Panels with Fibre Reinforced Plastic Facesheets and Analysing the Mechanical Properties

Using experimentally obtained specific material properties, numerical finite element models were created, one was honeycomb core sandwich structure other neat FRP composite structure was designed and experimentally verified. The honeycomb core sandwich composite comprised facesheets from wound glass fibre and polyvinylester resin and a core from recycled paper hexagonal honeycomb impregnated with polyvinylester resin and neat FRP composite structure consisted only two thin layers of facesheets. The model was used to obtain the optimal thickness of facesheet in honeycomb core sandwich structure at which the effective strength and stiffness properties can be obtained. It was determined that thickness of the facesheets had a significant effect on stiffness properties when the length between the supports are high. (paper)