Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the Rigidity in Bending of a Sandwich with Thick CFRP Facings and Thin Soft Core

  • Published:
Applied Composite Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Flexure tests in three-point bending were performed in the elastic domain on sandwich specimens whose facings were made of T800H/3900-2 laminates, and the core by a soft rubbery layer. The contribution of the shear and flexural deformations to the overall deflection was varied by varying the slenderness ratio. The rigidities yielded by the load-displacement curve were corrected for the indentation occurring at the points of load introduction, using an experimentally determined calibration curve. Due to the thinness of the sandwich, indentation negligibly affected the precision of the results, with the apparent rigidities differing from the actual ones by less than 2%. By an analytical formula previously developed for sandwich structures, a prediction of the rigidities in flexure was attempted, adopting elastic constants available in the literature. The correlation with the data points was poor, with the theoretical results largely overestimating the actual rigidities. However, the reliability of the closed-form formula was supported by finite element analysis, carried out modelling the facings by 2D plate elements, and the core by 3D brick elements. Through the formula, the core shear modulus was individuated as responsible of the discrepancies observed. Assuming a suitable value for this parameter, both the analytic solution and the finite element models were able to match with accuracy the rigidities measured.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Morell, M.: Apricos: advanced primary composite structures. Nouv. Rev. AeÂronaut. Astronaut. 2, 71–75 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Diaz, J., Rubio, L.: Developments to manufacture structural aeronautical parts in carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic materials. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 143–144, 342–346 (2003) doi:10.1016/S0924-0136(03)00450-3

  3. Nakra, B.C.: Vibration control in machines and structures using viscoelastic damping. J. Sound Vibrat. 211, 449–465 (1998). doi:10.1006/jsvi.1997.1317

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hao, M., Rao, M.D.: Vibration and damping analysis of a sandwich beam containing a viscoelastic constraining layer. J. Compos. Mater. 39, 1621–1643 (2005). doi:10.1177/0021998305051124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Whitney, J.M.: Shear correction factors for orthotropic laminates under static load. J. Appl. Mech. 40, 302–304 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pai, P.F.: A new look at shear correction factors and warping functions of anisotropic laminates. Int. J. Solids Struct. 32, 2295–2313 (1995). doi:10.1016/0020-7683(94)00258-X

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Plouin, A.S., Balmés, E.A.: A test validated model of plates with constrained viscoelastic materials. Proc. of IMAC-XVII, Kissimmee, FL, 8–11, 194–200 (1999)

  8. Caprino, G., Iaccarino, P., Lamboglia, A.: Elastic behaviour in three-point bending of a sandwich with thick CFRP facings and thin soft core. Proposed for publication on J Sand Struct Mat

  9. Kant, T., Swaminathan, K.: Analytical solutions for the static analysis of laminated composite and sandwich plates based on a higher-order refined theory. Compos. Struct. 56, 329–344 (2002). doi:10.1016/S0263-8223(02)00017-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Maa, L.S., Wan, T.J.: Relationships between axisymmetric bending and buckling solutions of FGM circular plates based on third-order plate theory and classical plate theory. Int. J. Solids Struct. 41, 85–101 (2004). doi:10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2003.09.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Moreira, R.A., Rodrigues, J.D.: Constrained damping layer treatments: finite element modelling. J. Vib. Control 10, 575–595 (2004)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. Plouin, A.S., Balmés, E.: Steel/viscoelastic/steel sandwich shells computational methods and experimental validation. Proc. Of IMAC-XVIII, San Antonio, TX, 7–10, 384–390 (2000)

  13. Allen, H.G.: Analysis and design of structural sandwich panels. Pergamon, Oxford (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Harte, A.-M., Fleck, N.A., Ashby, M.F.: The fatigue strength of sandwich beams with an aluminium alloy foam core. Int. J. Fatigue 23, 499–507 (2001). doi:10.1016/S0142-1123(01)00012-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Tagarielli, V.L., Fleck, N.A.: A comparison of the structural response of clamped and simply supported sandwich beams with aluminium faces and a metal foam core. J. Appl. Mech. 72, 408–417 (2005). doi:10.1115/1.1875432

    Article  MATH  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Vinson, J.R., Sierakowski, R.L.: The behavior of structures composed of composite materials. Nijhoff Ed, Dordrecht (1987)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  17. Caprino, G., Iaccarino, P., Lamboglia, A.: The effect of shear on the rigidity in three-point bending of unidirectional CFRP laminates made of T800H/3900-2. Compos. Struct. 88, 360–366 (2009). doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2008.04014

  18. Chevalier, L., Calloch, S., Hild, F., Marco, Y.: Digital image correlation used to analyze the multiaxial behavior of rubber-like materials. Eur. J. Mech. A, Solids 20, 169–187 (2001)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Alenia Aeronautica under the contract No. ASPT/T051/VP/MC/0069/06.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples “Federico II”, Piazzale Tecchio, 80, 80125, Naples, Italy

    G. Caprino, P. Iaccarino & A. Langella

  2. Alenia Aeronautica, Viale dell’Aeronautica, 80038, Pomigliano d’Arco, Italy

    A. Lamboglia

Authors
  1. G. Caprino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Iaccarino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Langella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Lamboglia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Iaccarino.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Caprino, G., Iaccarino, P., Langella, A. et al. On the Rigidity in Bending of a Sandwich with Thick CFRP Facings and Thin Soft Core. Appl Compos Mater 16, 163–172 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-009-9084-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-009-9084-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation