Quasi-Static Indentation Tests on Polyurethane and Phenolic Foam Sandwich Panels

Volume 13 Issue 1 August - October 2017

Research Paper

Quasi-Static Indentation Tests on Polyurethane and Phenolic Foam Sandwich Panels

Syed Mudassir*, M. Manzoor Hussain**, D. V. Ravi Shankar***

* Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, JNT University, Hyderabad, India.

** Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, JNT University, Hyderabad, India

*** Principal, TKR College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, India.

Mudassir,S., Hussai, M. M., and Shankar, D.V.R. (2017). Quasi-Static Indentation Tests on Polyurethane and Phenolic Foam Sandwich Panels. i-manager’s Journal on Future Engineering and Technology, 13(1), 15-21.https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.13.1.13758

Abstract

Mechanical response and energy absorption of polyurethane and phenolic foam sandwich composite panels subjected to quasi-static indentation loads were investigated experimentally. These sandwich panels consisted of two glass-fiber face-sheets and PU and Phenolic foam cores. Quasi-static indentation tests were conducted using an UTS-40 universal testing machine, with sandwich panels in fully fixed condition. Load-displacement curves were recorded and the total energy absorbed by sandwich panels was calculated accordingly. Photographs and video recordings were carried out to observe the deformation of top face sheets, foam cores, and bottom face-sheets. The main objective of this work was to study the energy absorption behaviour of different sandwich composite laminates under Quasi-static indentation. Load-deflection results were obtained from experimental tests using hemisphere indenter for different sandwich composite laminates. The energy absorbing capacity of sandwich laminates linearly increased with the increase in foam thickness. The effects of face-sheet thickness, core thickness, and energy absorption of sandwich panels are also discussed.