Flexural behavior of sandwich beams with novel triaxially woven fabric composite skins

M.Y. Al-Fasih, A.B.H. Kueh and M.H.W. Ibrahim

Abstract

This study aims to carry out the experimental and numerical investigation on the flexural behavior of sandwich honeycomb composite (SHC) beams reinforced with novel triaxially woven fabric composite skins. Different stacking sequences of the carbon fiber reinforcement polymer (CFRP) laminate; i.e., 0-direction of TW (TW0), 0-direction of TW (TW0), 0-direction of UD (UD0), and 90-direction of UD (UD90) were studied, from which the flexural behavior of SHC beam behaviors reinforced with TW0/UD0 or TW0/UD90 novel laminated skins were compared with those reinforced with UD0/90 conventional laminated skins under four-point loading. Generally, TW0/UD0 SHC beams displayed the same flexural stiffness as UD0/90 SHC beams in terms of load-deflection relationships. In contrast, TW0/UD90 SHC beams showed a 70% lower efficiency than those of UD0/90 SHC. Hence, the TW0/UD0 laminate arrangement is more effective with a mass reduction of 39% compared with UD0/90 for SHC beams, although their stiffness and shear strength are practically identical.

Key Words

flexural behavior; sandwich honeycomb composite; carbon fiber reinforced polymer; unidirectional; triaxial woven fabric

Address

M.Y. Al-Fasih and M.H.W. Ibrahim: Jamilus Research Centre, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia A.B.H. Kueh : Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

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