Enhancing impact energy absorption in composite sandwich structures through synergistic smart material integration
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This study conducted a comprehensive examination primarily focused on parametric study aspects to investigate the integration of smart materials, specifically shear thickening fluids (STF), into composite sandwich structures. The objective was to enhance the energy absorption capabilities of composite sandwich structures for impact protection. Two types of impact protection layers were proposed, involving the incorporation of STF into the core and facing of the composite sandwich structure. Low-velocity impact tests were carried out to assess impact behaviors and evaluate the resulting impact-induced damages. The findings revealed that the STF-filled core led to a significant enhancement in energy absorption capacity, ranging from 2.81% to 14.51%, compared to pristine structures. However, incorporating a small amount of STF into the facing did not significantly affect energy absorption capacity, except at low impact energy levels. Based on these results, the proposed composite sandwich structures with STF-filled cores demonstrate promising potential as protective layers against low-velocity impacts in various engineering applications in the near future.
Source: Results in Engineering
Institutions: Jeonbuk National University, Korea Aerospace University
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,490
Awards: G177013872, G3063494073, G7531076273
OpenAlex ID: W4391850698
