Investigation of impact resistance of sandwich composite structures

In this thesis study, the impact performances of the sandwich composite structure, especially in cases where the cellular core structure forming the sandwich composite structure is empty and filled with waste material, were investigated. In this context, in order to compare the impact performances of sandwich composite structures, the impact energy level was determined first. For this, first, the impact tests of the panels forming the upper and lower surfaces of the sandwich were performed. With the impact energy level determined here, impact tests of rubber-filled, travertine-filled and empty sandwich composite structures were performed. In order to determine the effects of waste materials on impact performances, the impact performance changes of the core sandwiches with the same properties were compared with each other. Accordingly, it was determined that the maximum damage force obtained from the T1 sample increased by approximately 42% compared to the maximum damage force obtained from the B1 sample. It was also determined that the maximum damage force obtained from the K1 sample increased by approximately 38% compared to the maximum damage force obtained from the B1 sample. It was determined that the maximum damage forces obtained from the K4 and T4 samples increased by approximately 23% and 16%, respectively, compared to the maximum damage force obtained from the B4 sample. In general, it has been determined that the effect of the filling material on the impact performance decreases with the decrease in the cell size of the cellular core structure. When the impact force values are taken into account, the best impact performance was obtained from the K4 sandwich composite structure sample with a 4-cell rubber-filled core structure. Thus, it has been determined that the maximum impact force value of the lower-upper surface plate obtained under the 20 J impact energy level increased by 35% with the B4 empty sandwich composite structure and by 50% with the K4 rubber-filled sandwich composite structure.