COMPRESSION AFTER IMPACT OF 3-D INTEGRATED HOLLOW CORE SANDWICH COMPOSITES

This work was designed to investigate the compression after impact of 3-D integrated hollow core sandwich composites. The 3-D integrated hollow core sandwich composites were prepared and tested. The development process of the compressive damage after low-velocity impact was investigated by image observations. The test results indicated that the impact damage considerably affected the compressive resistance of the sandwiched composites. It was found that the compression after impact decreased with the increasing of impact energy. The compressive damage of the composite was mainly controlled by the front face-sheet, and the load caused the bending of the front face-sheet local was nearly equal to the load of the composite compressive damage. The skin cover could not only reduce the impact damage of the composite, but also leave the damage on the surface, which could be detected easily.