The effect of boron carbide additive on the low‐velocity impact properties of low‐density foam core composite sandwich structures

Abstract

AbstractSandwich structures with carbon fiber‐epoxy face sheets and polyvinyl chloride foam core material are known for their high strength and flexural stiffness despite their low weight. However, the structural response, in terms of crush strength, of the particles added sandwich structures are not very well known under impact loading conditions. In this study, the impact resistance and damage characteristics of particle added low weight composite sandwich structures were investigated with a low‐velocity drop weight impact test device. Boron carbide (B4C) particles, which had excellent hardness, thermoelectric, and radiation absorbing characteristics, were used as an additive for the epoxy matrix. For this purpose, 2%, 5%, and 10% by weight additives were mixed into the epoxy matrix and sandwich structures were produced with hand lay‐up followed by vacuum bagging method. All configurations were subjected to low‐velocity drop weight impact test at three different energy levels (10, 17.50, and 25 J). The results obtained from the experiments and the images of the post‐impact damage of the sandwich structures were presented comparatively. According to the test results, configurations containing 10% boron carbide (B4C) additive has shown the best performance in terms of resistance to impact load.