Damage Identification and Mechanical Assessment of Impacted Sandwich Composites

Abstract

Sandwich composites are often subjected to low velocity impact, a random and thus feared type of loading. Vulnerability of sandwich materials under such an event depends on the skins and core structure and skin-core interfaces. The paper presents ways to identify the damage severity occurred during low velocity impact tests, with further assessment of the residual mechanical performance of some kind of sandwich composites. In this study, non-destructive inspections (NDI) have been mixed with mechanical destructive testing in a comprehensive structural health monitoring (SHM) approach, meant to evaluate the damage tolerance of such materials, intended to be used on some structural components of a green energy power unit.