Numerical investigation of structural behavior of fiber reinforced polymers filled sandwich panels

This thesis deals with numerical investigation of structural behavior of fiber reinforced polymers filled sandwich panels. The skin of the panel is glass fiber reinforced polymer, carbon fiber reinforced plastic or aluminum. The core material is a polyurethane foam or honeycomb formed a glass fiber reinforced polymer. The sandwich panels are investigated with or without U channel profile ends. The numerical model is developed using the ANSYS APDL program for analysis of sandwich panels. This model is verified with experimental results which are available in the literature for sandwich panel subject to 4-point load test and made of glass fiber reinforced polymer skins, and polyurethane foam core. The verification study shows that there is good agreement between numerical and experimental results. The approved numerical model is used for the parametric study. The type of skin material, type of core material, the thickness of the skin and U profile ends are considered for the parametric study. The results of the parametric study are reported for the use of design engineers.