Compression after impact behavior of carbon/epoxy composite sandwich panels with Nomex honeycomb core subjected to low velocity impacts at extreme cold temperatures

Abstract

The effect of temperature during impact on the compression after impact behavior of carbon/epoxy composite sandwich panels with Nomex honeycomb core is investigated. Impact tests were performed at room temperature, −70 °C, and −150 °C, while compression after impact tests on the damaged panels are performed at room temperature in order to isolate the effect of temperature during impact on the residual compressive strength and failure modes. Results show that there is almost no effect of target temperature at impact on the residual compressive strength of the damaged panels, although target temperature affects the damage induced by impact loading. Moreover, the effect of impact temperature on the residual compressive strength is negligible when compared to the strength reduction between pristine panels and the panels with the least amount of damage tested in this study.