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.