Temperature effects on Kevlar/hybrid and carbon fiber composite sandwiches under impact loading

This paper presents the results of a research on impacted sandwich composites with Kevlar/hybrid and carbon facesheets subjected to different temperatures. Testing was performed to determine bending and core shear stresses, maximum energy absorption, and absorbing energy and moment parameter (AEMP), performance parameter (PP), and compression strength after impact (CSAI). Specimens were tested at temperature range of -50 degrees C to 120 degrees C and were subjected to low velocity impact energies of 15 J, 25 J, and 45 J. Tested composite specimens have a urethane filled honeycomb core sandwiched between a variation of four-layered Kevlar/hybrid and carbon facesheets. Results showed that the impact performance of these composite sandwiches changed over the range of temperature and that testing at ambient temperature is not sufficient in the development and full understanding of composite sandwich damage properties. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.