Composites Project

Experimental and Numerical

modelling of sandwich
composite laminates.

Bharathan R D
AE14D214
Khemchand
Prasad
Brief Introduction to the terms
Sandwich-structured composites are a
special class of composite materials with
the typical features of low weight, high
stiffness and high strength.
Sandwich is fabricated by attaching two

thin, strong, and stiff skins to a lightweight

and relatively thick core.
Its higher thickness provides the sandwich

composite with high bending stiffness with

overall low density.
Methodology
To find the material properties of the
sandwich composite at various orientations
by
Experiment
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) (ABAQUS)
To find the structural rigidity of the beam by
three point bending test through
Experiment
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) (ABAQUS)
 Experimental
Taking up 8 layers (0.5mm each) of
Unidirectional Glass fiber mat
and PU foam (polyurathane) as
core(15mm),

prepared samples of sandwich

composite materials using mix of

hand layup and compression molding

technique.

Fiber angle taken is 0 deg. for all

the fiber mats.
 Hand layup
Epoxy to glass fiber ratio = 1:1
Glass fiber to hardener ratio = 10:1
8 fiber mats each with 0 deg orientation UD
mat.
Polyurethane core of thickness 15 mm.

Compression molding
Operated at 80oC and zero bar pressure for
four hours so as to retain the fiber
orientation.
Tensile Test (ASTM-D3039)
0.16

Tensile test 0 deg skin

0.14

0.12

0.1

0.08

0.06 (GPa)
Stress stress(k

0.04

0.02

Strain(x10-3)
Tensile Test Results

Tension
Test

Fiber Youngs Tensile
orientation modulus Strength
(Gpa) (Mpa)
00 29.873 533
450 10.74 40
900 7.32 22
00/900 cross ply 19.357 344
Three Point Bending Test Set
up

B D
A
C E

Segment Length (mm)

AE 250
AB 20
BC 105
CD 105
Load vs Displacement
5
4.5 Flexural Rigidity =
4 5.027 Pa m4
3.5 f(x) = 26.05x - 0
3
R = 1
2.5
Load (N)
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

Displacement (mm)
Finite Element Modelling
ABAQUS software used.
Tensile Tests simulated
Three point bending test simulated
Results compared with Test results
Tensile Test Simulation -
Geometry

A B C D

Segme Length
nt (mm)
AD 140
AB 20
BC 100
Tensile Test Simulation Lay-
up
Tensile Test Simulation
Boundary Conditions
Tensile Test Simulation
Results

Stress Plot

Displacement Plot
Tensile Test Simulation Results
5
4.5
f(x) =
4 24001.13x - 0
3.5
Fiber Youngs Youngs
orienta Modulus _ Modulus _
3
tion Test FEA
2.5 (Gpa) (Gpa)
Stress (MPa)
2 00 29.873 24
1.5 900 7.32 7.193
1 00/900
cross
0.5
ply 19.357 1.236
0
00000000000

Strain
3 Point Bending Simulation
Boundary Conditions
B

A C

Locatio Boundary
n Condition
A Encastre
B All but U2 fixed
B U2 = 10 mm
C Encastre
3 Point Bending Simulation
Results 500
400
f(x) = 38.15x + 0
300
Load (N) 200
100
0
0 5 10 15

Displacement (mm)

3 Pt 3 Pt
Bending_ Bending _
Test FEA
(Pa m4) (Pa m4)
5.026 7.960