TY - GEN
T1 - Evaluation of honeycomb composite sandwich structures manufactured using VARTM process
AU - Menta, V. G.K.
AU - Vuppalapati, R. R.
AU - Chandrashekhara, K.
AU - Pfitzinger, D.
AU - Phan, N.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - In spite of numerous advantages of open-cell core sandwich composites, the applications have been limited due to the problems involved in manufacturing using low cost processes. Resin accumulation in the core is a major challenge in the fabrication of honeycomb sandwich panels using resin infusion techniques. Foam-filled cores and polymer film barriers are some of the methods used in the literature to address this issue. However, these techniques will increase the weight of the sandwich composites. In the present work, honeycomb sandwich panels were manufactured using commercially available film adhesive and modified vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The resin incursion into the core openings was investigated. No accumulation of resin was observed in the core. Flatwise tension, flatwise/edgewise compression, and three-point bending tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance of the sandwich composites. The performance of sandwich panels during a low velocity impact event was also evaluated. Results indicate that the VARTM process can be successfully used to manufacture honeycomb composite sandwich structures using currently available barrier adhesive films.
AB - In spite of numerous advantages of open-cell core sandwich composites, the applications have been limited due to the problems involved in manufacturing using low cost processes. Resin accumulation in the core is a major challenge in the fabrication of honeycomb sandwich panels using resin infusion techniques. Foam-filled cores and polymer film barriers are some of the methods used in the literature to address this issue. However, these techniques will increase the weight of the sandwich composites. In the present work, honeycomb sandwich panels were manufactured using commercially available film adhesive and modified vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The resin incursion into the core openings was investigated. No accumulation of resin was observed in the core. Flatwise tension, flatwise/edgewise compression, and three-point bending tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance of the sandwich composites. The performance of sandwich panels during a low velocity impact event was also evaluated. Results indicate that the VARTM process can be successfully used to manufacture honeycomb composite sandwich structures using currently available barrier adhesive films.
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M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:78649491427
SN - 9781934551073
T3 - International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition (Proceedings)
BT - SAMPE 2010 Conference and Exhibition "New Materials and Processes for a New Economy"
T2 - SAMPE 2010 Conference and Exhibition "New Materials and Processes for a New Economy"
Y2 - 17 May 2010 through 20 May 2010
ER -