Fracture behaviour of foam core sandwich structures with manufacturing defects using phase-field modelling

This study investigates fracture behaviour of sandwich structures with foam core slits. These slits are typically machined in the materials to improve manufacturability but inevitably lead material discontinuities such as resin-starving regions or voids. Using phase-field method, which does not require exact location crack initiation path known a prior, complex process different resin-filling is numerically reproduced. We examine effective stiffness, peak force, displacement at initiation, and dissipated energy during structure under shear loads following ASTMC273 test standard. It found that fully partly resin filled exhibits better resistance than ones intact unfilled The also shows good ductility due presence effects number slits, slit spacing density on load-carrying capacity examined, providing insights into damage tolerance manufacturing defects.