Carbon Foam Core Composite Sandwich Beams: Flexure Response

Abstract

The possibility of utilizing an open-cell carbon foam in structural applications is assessed through integrated testing and computational analysis. The structural elements considered are sandwich beams with carbon-epoxy laminate face sheets and carbon foam core subjected to bending loads. The primary damage mode observed is the formation of shear cracks in the carbon foam core at a measured axial strain of 2473 me on the face sheet. Subsequently, three-dimensional FEA models are developed to identify the damage modes and the progressive damage pattern for an isotropic carbon foam core. Results of the computational simulations – displacements, axial strains, and damage modes – correlated well with the test outcome.

Effects of cell shape and strut cross-sectional area variations on the elastic properties of three-dimensional open-cell foams

“…Among these four shapes, Plateau boarder is believed to be closest to actual strut cross-sectional shapes (e.g., Warren and Kraynik, 1997;Li et al, 2003). This is supported by recent experimental observations reported in Sarzynski and Ochoa (2005) and Gong et al (2005a), whose micrographs showed that the true strut cross-section shape for an open-cell carbon or polymeric foam is indeed closer to Plateau border than to other shapes. Hence, most of the simulations to be presented below are conducted for foams with Plateau border strut cross-sections, as indicated in Table 1.…”

Transversely isotropic constitutive properties modeling of tubular sandwich composite structures

“…Aerospace structures, in particular, modern launch vehicles, helicopter blades, optical benches for space applications, and nonferrous ship hulls are among some of the current applications. [1][2][3][4][5] With increasing use of fiber-reinforced composite sandwich structures with different geometries for various applications, it has become necessary to investigate the mechanical behavior of such structures when they are subjected to external loads. Sarzynski and Ochoa 3 studied flexure responses of the composite sandwich beams with carbonepoxy laminate face sheets and carbon foam core subjected to bending loads.…”

Microstructure-Based Models for Multi-Functional Material Systems

“…Carbon foams offer many opportunities to create multifunctional material systems sought after in advanced thermal, electrical, biomedical, and structural applications [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Our objective is to develop micro-structure driven computational methods to enable processing and tailoring of multi-functional materials as foams with additives and integrated coating layers are optimized.…”