The effect of elevated temperature on the mechanical properties and failure modes of GFRP face sheets and PET foam cored sandwich beams

The influence of elevated temperatures on stiffness and strength of composite face sheet and polyethylene terephthalate foam cored sandwich beam has been experimentally investigated. Standard test methods and analytical failure models were used to determine the effect of elevated temperatures. The authors examined E-glass/epoxy cross-ply face laminates, polyethylene terephthalate foam, and sandwich beams consisting of glass/epoxy face laminates and polyethylene terephthalate foam core loaded in four-point flexure. The tensile properties of the face laminate were examined over a temperature range from 25 to 175 degrees C. Compression and shear tests on the face laminate, polyethylene terephthalate foam, and sandwich beams were performed at temperatures up to 100 degrees C. The face laminates exhibited moderate reductions of Young's modulus and tensile strength, while the compressive strength, shear modulus, and shear strength substantially decreased at elevated temperatures. Similarly, the compressive and shear moduli as well as the compressive strength of the polyethylene terephthalate foam decreased substantially by exposure to a temperature of 100 degrees C. The failure mode of the sandwich panels was observed to be highly dependent on temperature, distinguishing three basic failure modes, viz. core shear failure, indentation failure, and face wrinkling. The failure loads associated to these failure modes were calculated using models available in the literature. The failure loads were found to be consistent with the failure predictions and failure modes.