An experimental study of creep behavior of lightweight natural fiber-reinforced polymer composite/honeycomb core sandwich panels

In this study, creep response of laboratory made natural fiber-reinforced thermoset polymer composite face/honeycomb core sandwich panels was investigated. Sandwich panel creep properties in a period of 30 days in ambient conditions and at 65% relative humidity were studied. In ambient conditions (relative humidity (RH) at 20-50%), sandwich panels showed linear viscoelastic properties when the stress level was less than 30% of their failure stress. Higher relative humidity (65%) produced a significant acceleration of creep strain. Creep behavior in ambient conditions was successfully simulated by Findley and Bailey-Norton models. The sandwich panels' creep resistance properties were compared with those of relevant sandwich-structure composites studied in the literature. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.