Fabrication and mechanical characterization of CFRP X-core sandwich panels

Abstract A hot-press molding technique is developed to design and manufacture carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) X-core sandwich panels that allowed both the composite face sheets its be simultaneously molded together. Compression tests were performed on assess effects of relative density compressive properties failure mode it develops. Analytical models predict panel stiffness strength; a map deformation generated based geometric parameters unit cell. Linear nonlinear finite element analyses further investigate initial imperfection progressive damage response with different cell wall slenderness. Predictions from analytical numerical will shown in good agreement experiments. The CFRP attain are comparable typical high strength cellular materials, which potentially useful for lightweighting applications.