Design of Sandwich Composites with Multi-Functional Facesheets

ABSTRACTSandwich composites find increasing use as flexural load bearing lightweight sub-elements in air / space vehicles, rail / ground transportation, marine and sporting goods. The core materials in these applications is usually balsa, foam or honeycombs, while laminated carbon or glass are used as facesheets. A limitation of traditional sandwich configurations is that the space in the core becomes inaccessible once the facesheets are bonded in place. Significant multi-functional benefits can be obtained by making either the facesheets or the core, space accessible. Multi-functionality is generally referred to as value added to the structure that enhances functions beyond traditional load bearing. Such functions may include sound / vibration damping, ability to route wires or embed sensors. The present work considers traditional core materials of nomex and aluminum honeycombs that possess functional space accessible facesheets, and their low velocity impact (LVI) response.