Loading Rate Effect on Flexural and Indentation Behaviour of Foam Core Composite Sandwich Panel

The present study focuses on the flexural and the indentation behaviour of foam core sandwich panel subject to three point bending and indentation loading at different loading rates. The load-deflection, stress-deflection responses and energy absorption properties of foam core sandwich panel are determined experimentally. The foam core sandwich panel was fabricated using vacuum infusion process. The sandwich structure consists of chopped strand mat fibreglass skins and polyurethane foam core. The flexural and the indentation tests were conducted using Instron Universal Testing machine. It was found that loading rate influences the flexural and the indentation behaviours of foam core sandwich panel. By increasing the loading rate, the stiffness, strength and energy absorption of flexural and indentation of these structures were increased.