Investigation of elastomeric foam response applied as core for composite sandwich beams through progressive failure of the beams

In this paper an elastomeric foam is applied as core for the composite sandwich beams and load carrying capacity, load–deflection response, and progressive failure are examined through experimental and finite element studies. The objective of this study is to assess the efficiency of elastomeric foam-cored sandwich (EFCS) beams relative to crushable foam-cored sandwich (CFCS) beams. The experimental program consists of two phases. In the first phase, some characterization tests are conducted on the constituent materials of the sandwich beams such as tension, compression, and shear tests on the foam and bending test on the composite beams utilized as skins. Then in the second phase, the performance of the sandwich beams is examined under bending conditions. The load carrying behavior of the sandwich beams is considered dependent on two main features of the constituent materials: (1) the hyperelastic behavior of the foam core and (2) the progressive damage of the composite skins. These characteristics are simulated by the finite element models. Due to elastomeric rather than crushable deformation of the applied foam as the core, the conventional damage modes of the CFCS beams associated to the brittleness of the core material are omitted through load carrying capacity of the EFCS beams. So in the recent sandwich beams by omission of the core failure modes and utilization of compressive residual strength of the top composite skin, considerable energy is absorbed prior to failure of the bottom composite skin. By simulation of the test specimens using FE models, the response of the foam applied as core for the sandwich beams through progressive failure of the beams is investigated. The results show that the elastomeric foam core can provide superior features for the sandwich components especially for the cases in which high energy absorption capacity is required.