Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Damage Modeling of Notched Graphite/Epoxy Sandwich Panels in Compression

  • Published:
Applied Composite Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Open-hole honeycomb sandwich panels with woven graphite/epoxy facesheets and Nomex™ cores were tested uniaxially in compression to characterize their damage tolerance. A plain weave T-300 graphite fiber fabric was used for the facesheets in two stacking sequences: [45/02] and [03]. Observations of macroscopic sub-critical damage behavior were different in the two material systems. Linear damage zones (LDZ), consisting of fiber micro-buckles and extensive delamination, were typically observed in the [03] material. The [45/02] material exhibited a delamination/bulge zone (DBZ), which consisted of an out-of-plane curved deformation of the outer 45° ply accompanied by a delamination from the interior 0° plies. Modeling of these apparently distinct failure modes, and comparison to experimental data, revealed that the only mode representative of damage tolerant behavior is linear damage zone formation and propagation for both material systems, and that the delamination/bulge behavior is a secondary phenomenon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McGowan, D. M. and Ambur, D. R., 'Damage-Tolerance Characteristics of Composite Fuselage Sandwich Structures With Thick Facesheets', presented at Fibrous Composites in Structural Design, Fort Worth, TX, U.S.A., 26-29 Aug. 1996 (NASA-TM-110303), 1996.

  2. Smith, P. J., Ilcewicz, L. B., and Olson, J. T., 'Advanced Technology Composite Fuselage', in Proceedings of the Fifth NASA/DoD/ARPA Advanced Composites Technology Conference, NASA CP-3294, 1995, pp. 1-31.

  3. Avery, W. B., Flynn, B. W., Hanson, C. T., Scholz, D. B., Murphy, D. P., Carberry, D. J., Dopker, B., Williams, A. M., and Ilcewicz, L. B., 'Design and Structural Development of a Composite Fuselage Keel Panel', in Proceedings of the Fifth NASA/DoD/ARPA Advanced Composites Technology Conference, NASA CP-3294, 1995, pp. 463-496.

  4. Lagace, P. A., Spearing, S. M., and McManus, H. L., A Proposed Design Methodology for the Failure and Durability of Composite Structures, Technology Laboratory for Advanced Composites (TELAC) Report 96-14, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1996.

  5. Mirazo Antolín, J. M., Damage Characterization and Modeling of Notched Graphite/Epoxy Sandwich Panels in Compression, S.M. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Cambridge, MA (USA), 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Guynn, E. G., Bradley, W. L., and Elber, W., 'Micromechanics of Compression Failures in Open Hole Composite Laminates', in ASTM STP 1012, P. A. Lagace (ed.), 1989, pp. 118-136.

  7. Soutis, C., 'Compressive Failure of Notched Carbon Fibre-Epoxy Panels', Ph.D. Thesis, Cambridge University, Engineering Department (UK), 1989.

  8. Soutis, C., Fleck, N. A., and Smith, P. A., 'Failure Prediction Technique for Compressive Loaded Carbon Fibre-Epoxy with Open Hole', Journal of Composite Materials 25(11), 1991, 1476-1498.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Soutis, C., Curtis, P. T., and Fleck, N. A., 'Compressive Failure of Notched Carbon Fibre Composites', Proceedings of the Royal Society London A 440, 1993, 241-256.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sutcliffe, M. P. F. and Fleck, N. A., 'Microbuckle Propagation in Carbon Fibre-Epoxy Composites', Acta Metallurgica et Materialia 42(7), 1994, 2219-2231.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Fleck, N. A., Sivashanker, S., and Sutcliffe, M. P. F., 'Compressive Failure of Composites due to Microbuckle Growth', European Journal of Mechanics A/Solids 16, 1997, 65-82.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Guynn, E. G. and Bradley, W. L., 'Measurements of the Stress Supported by the Crush Zone in Open Hole Composite Laminates Loaded in Compression', Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites 8, 1989, 133-149.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Fleck, N. A., Jelf, P. M., and Curtis, P. T., 'Compressive Failure of Laminated and Woven Composites', Journal of Composites & Technology Research 17, 1995, 212-220.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dugdale, D. S., 'Yielding of Steel Sheets Containing Slits', Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 8, 1960, 100-108.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Newman, J. C., 'A Nonlinear Fracture Mechanics Approach to the Growth of Small Cracks', in Behavior of Short Cracks on Airframe Components, AGARD Conference Proceedings, France, 1982.

  16. Tada, H., Paris, P. C., and Irwin, G. R., The Stress Analysis of Cracks Handbook, Del Research Corporation, St. Louis, MO 63105, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cox, B. N., 'Delamination and Buckling in 3D Composites', Journal of Composite Materials 28, 1994, 1114-1126.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mouritz, A. P. and Cox B. N., 'A Mechanistic Approach to the Properties of Stitched Laminates', Composites A 31(1), 2000, 1-27.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Shu, D. and Mai, Y. W., 'Effect of Stitching on Interlaminar Delamination Extension in Composite Laminates', Composites Science Technology 49, 1993, 165-171.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Zok, F. W. and Hom, C. L., 'Large-Scale Bridging in Brittle Matrix Composites', Acta Metallurgica et Materialia 38, 1990, 1895-1904.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA

    José M. Mirazo & S. Mark Spearing

Authors
  1. José M. Mirazo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Mark Spearing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mirazo, J.M., Spearing, S.M. Damage Modeling of Notched Graphite/Epoxy Sandwich Panels in Compression. Applied Composite Materials 8, 191–216 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011272028561

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011272028561

Search

Navigation