Effect of extreme cold temperatures on quasi-static indentation and impact behavior of woven carbon fiber epoxy composite sandwich panels with nomex honeycomb core

The effect of extreme cold temperatures on the quasi-static indentation and the low velocity impact behavior of woven carbon/epoxy composite sandwich panels with Nomex honeycomb core was investigated. Impact tests were performed at room temperature, –70°C, and –150°C. Two sizes of hemispherical impactor were used combined to three different impactor masses. All the impact tests were performed at the same initial impact velocity. The effect of temperature on the impact behavior is investigated by studying the load history, load-displacement curves and transmitted energy as a function of time curves. Impact damage induced at various temperatures was studied using different non-destructive and destructive techniques. Globally, more damages are induced with impact temperature decreasing. The results also show that the effect of temperature on the impact behavior is function of the impactor size.