Impact Loading Performance of Polymer Foam Core Aluminium Sandwich Panels

Y. Cana, H. Güçlüb, İ. K. Türkoğluc, İ. Kasarb, M. Yazıcıb aR&D Center, OYAK Renault Automotive Company, Bursa, Turkey bBursa Uludag University, Department of Automotive Engineering, Bursa, Turkey cAmasya University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amasya, Turkey

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In this study, two different foam core aluminum face sheets sandwich panels were developed. The core materials were selected as expanded polypropylene (EPP) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) foams. Two aluminum face sheets and foam cores were combined with flexible epoxy-based adhesives, under 20 N static compression load. The average density of the produced sandwich panels was 0.39 g/cm3 for EPP foam core sandwich and 0.33 g/cm3 for XPS foam core sandwich panel. Produced specimens were subjected 3-point bending experiments under impact loading. Damage behavior of the sandwiches was observed using post-mortem pictures. The results show that the produced sandwiches damaged perfectly plastic deformations with face sheets and core. There was not any adhesive and cohesive failure in the core and face sheets interfaces.

DOI:10.12693/APhysPolA.135.769 topics: aluminum sandwich panel, EPP foam, XPS foam, impact loading, adhesive bonding