• Composites Research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.74-82
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• 1999

The static and fatigue characteristics of polyurethane foam cored sandwich structures are investigated. Three types of the specimens with the glass fabric faces and the polyurethane foam core are used; non-stitched. stitched, and stiffened sandwich specimen. Especially additional structural reinforcements with the twisted polyester and glass fiber for thickness direction are made to stitched sandwich structure panel to minimize the delamination of structure which is stitched the upper and lower faces through the core and the resin is impregnated Into stitched fiber with the characteristics of low viscosity of resin at resin flow temperature and cured together with during the curing process. Bending strength of stitched specimen which is 50 mm $50{\times}50{\;}mm$ pitched is improved by 50 % as com-pared with non-stitched specimen and stiffened specimen is improved 10 times more than non-stitched structure. After fatigue testing of $10^6$cycles by 20% of ultimate load under monotonic load, the bending fatigue strength of non-stitched specimen is decreased by 27% of monotonic bending strength, 39% for stitched structure and 20% for stiffened specimen. To verify the aging effect of polyurethane form core, Ultrasonic C-scanning equipment is used to detect the damage of skin laminate alone after fatigue test. From results of UT C-scan images, there is no defect that can be damaged occurred during fatigue test. It is concluded that the decrease of bending strength for foam cored sandwich specimen is caused by the decrease of stiffness due to the aging of polyurethane foam core during fatigue cycles.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.366-374
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• 1992

Mechanical and impact properties of stitched S2 glass fiber reinforced polyester woven laminates composites have been studied. Laminates were stitched using Kevlar 49 thread with 1/2, 1, and 2 inch stitch spacing. Tensile and 3-point bending tests haute been performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of stitched and unstitched laminates. Impact tests at applied energy of 234.7J were performed to examine the impact behavior and toughness changes of the specimen. The same specimens were also tested repeatedly at low impact energy level of 110.2J for 3 times to evaluate damage tolerance properties. The tensile and 3-point bending test results showed that one inch spacing specimen had the highest tensile and flexural strength. It also showed the highest energy absorption capability and the best damage tolerance property at the repeated impact test. The half inch spacing specimen showed the lowest tensile strength and energy absorption property at the impact energy level of 234.7J, even though it had the highest frequency of stitching thread.