• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.229-241
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• 2021

This work focused on aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) with different foam core densities and different face-sheet thicknesses subjected to constant amplitude three-point bending cyclic loading to study its fatigue performance. The experiments were conducted out by a high frequency fatigue test machine named GPS-100. The experimental results showed that the fatigue life of AFS decreased with the increasing loading level and the structure was sensitive to cyclic loading, especially when the loading level was under 20%. S-N curves of nine groups of AFS specimens were obtained and the fatigue life of AFS followed three-parameter lognormal distribution well. AFS under low cyclic loading showed pronounced cyclic hardening and the static strength after fatigue test increased. For the same loading level, effects of foam core density and face-sheet thickness on the fatigue life of AFS structure were trade-off and for the same loading value, the fatigue life of AFS increased with aluminum foam core density or face-sheet thickness monotonously. Core shear was the main failure mode in the present study.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.407-414
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• 2002

The knowledge of interaction of electromagnetic waves in composite structures is important for designing the shielding structure for antenna such as radome. Recently, radomes are constructed in the form of foam core sandwich structures that have many mechanical advantages such as high strength, long fatigue life, low density and adaptability to the intended function of structure. However, the propagation of electromagnetic waves is affected by high anisotropic permeability and loss tangent of the composite skin. In this study, the analytical model to understand the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the anisotropic composites and foam core sandwich structures with composite skins was proposed. Numerical analyses of unidirectional composites and foam core sandwich structure as a function of incident angle were performed. From the results of analysis, the general tendencies of transmittance of electromagnetic wave through composites and foam core sandwich structure were obtained.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.35-43
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• 2011

This study examined the structural behaviors of foam insulated concrete sandwich panels subjected to uniform pressure. Finite element models were used to simulate the detailed shear resistance of connectors and the nonlinear behaviors of concrete, foam and rebar components. The models were then validated using data from static tests performed at the University of Missouri. Both composite and non-composite action had a significant effect on the response of the foam insulated concrete sandwich panels, indicating that the simulated shear tie resistance should indeed be incorporated in numerical analyses. The modeling approach used here conveniently simulated the structural behaviors during all loading stages (elastic, yielding, ultimate and post-failure) and was compatible with the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Code and existing design practices. The results of this study will therefore provide useful guidelines for the analysis and design of foam insulated sandwich panels under both static and dynamic loadings.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2010

The smoke density and noxious gas for phenol foam and polyurethane foam were measured according to test methods in ASTM E 662 and KS F 2271. It was observed that phenol foam had the possibility of application for sandwich panel and board compared with polyurethane foam. In the experimental results, phenol foam showed comparatively excellent property than polyurethane foam in smoke density and noxious gas. The polyurethane foam showed comparatively high smoke density and didn't meet the evaluation standard of noxious gas in KS F 2271. From the experimental results of smoke density and noxious gas, it can be said that phenol foam has both comparatively good safety and high possibility of application than polyurethane foam in the building fire of sandwich panel structure because of lower smoke density and noxious gas.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.183-186
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• 2001

In this paper, the analytical model to understand the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the foam core sandwich structures was proposed. Using the analytical model, efforts were made to find the optimal stacking sequence of composite skins for maximum transmittance of electromagnetic wave. Numerical analyses of unidirectional composites and foam as a function of incident angle were performed. From the results of analysis, the general tendencies of transmittance of electromagnetic wave through composites and foam were obtained. Based on the general tendencies, optimal stacking sequences of composite skins for the maximum transmittance of electromagnetic wave were found with certain ranges of incident angle using genetic algorithm(GA).

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-30
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• 2007

Since delamination often propagates at the interfacial layer between a surface skin and a foam core, a crack arrester is proposed for the suppression of the delamination. The arrester has a semi-cylindrical shape and is arranged in the foam core and is attached to the surface skin. Here, energy release rates and complex stress intensity factors are calculated using finite element analysis. Effects of the arrester size and its elastic moduli on the crack suppressing capability are investigated. Considerable reductions of the energy release rates at the crack tip are achieved as the crack tip approached the leading edge of the crack arrester. Thus, this new concept of a crack arrester may become a promising device to suppress crack initiation and propagation of the foam core sandwich panels.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 2016

Polyurethane foam with low density used in sandwich panels is examined in the paper. A series of experiments was carried out to identify mechanical parameters of the foam. Various experimental methods were used for determining the shear modulus, namely a four and three point bending tests (the most common in engineering practice), a double-lap shear test and a torsion test. The behavior of PU in axial compression and tension was also studied. The experiments revealed pronounced anisotropy of the PU foam. An orthotropic model is proposed. Limitations of application of isotropic model of PU in engineering practice is also discussed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.159-172
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• 2014

A finite element model with the consideration of damage initiation and evolution has been developed for the analysis of the dynamic response of a composite sandwich panel subject to low velocity impact. Typical damage modes including fiber breakage, matrix crushing and cracking, delamination and core crushing are considered in this model. Strain-based Hashin failure criteria with stiffness degradation mechanism are used in predicting the initiation and evolution of intra-laminar damage modes by self-developed VUMAT subroutine. Zero-thickness cohesive elements are adopted along the interface regions between the facesheets and the foam core to simulate the initiation and propagation of delamination. A crushable foam core model with volumetric hardening rule is used to simulate the mechanical behavior of foam core material at the plastic state. The time history curves of contact force and the core collapse area are obtained. They all show a good correlation with the experimental data.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.3802-3807
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• 2011

In this study, in-plane and out-plane compression tests of aluminum foam and honeycomb sandwich composites were carried out. Through these tests, the relationships of load-displacements were analyzed and the compression characteristics were compared with each other. The specimens were compressed with the speed of 1mm/min by using the universal testing machine. Experimental procedures were taken with photograph by the camera and load cell data were stored into computer. Test results showed that buckling was occurred at the aluminum foam core and honeycomb core according to the increase of load. In the in-plane compression test, the maximum load of aluminum foam specimen was similar with that of honeycomb sandwich. The property of honeycomb was better than that of the foam in consideration of specific gravity. In the out-plane compression test, compression maximum load of aluminum honeycomb sandwich composite was higher than that of aluminum foam sandwich composite.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1145-1156
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• 2016

To study the effects of foam core density and face-sheet thickness on the mechanical properties and failure modes of aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) beam, especially when the aluminum foam core is made in aluminum alloy and the face sheet thickness is less than 1.5 mm, three-point bending tests were investigated experimentally by using WDW-50E electronic universal tensile testing machine. Load-displacement curves were recorded to understand the mechanical response and photographs were taken to capture the deformation process of the composite structures. Results demonstrated that when foam core was combined with face-sheet thickness of 0.8 mm, its carrying capacity improved with the increase of core density. But when the thickness of face-sheet increased from 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm, result was opposite. For AFS with the same core density, their carrying capacity increased with the face-sheet thickness, but failure modes of thin face-sheet AFS were completely different from the thick face-sheet AFS. There were three failure modes in the present research: yield damage of both core and bottom face-sheet (Failure mode I), yield damage of foam core (Failure mode II), debonding between the adhesive interface (Failure mode III).