Flexural behavior of sandwich structures with a hybrid carbon nanotube/short carbon fiber foam core and debonded skin/core interface

Abstract

Effects of incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and short carbon fibers (SCFs) into the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam core on the flexural behavior of sandwich beams are investigated. Upper and lower skins are made of laminated composites and an initial debonded interface among the upper skin and core is considered. The mechanical properties of the hybrid CNT/SCF/PVC core are determined employing micromechanical models. To inspect the flexural behavior of sandwich beams at macro-scale, end notched shear (ENS) test is simulated using the finite element method (FEM). The results indicate an increase in flexural stiffness in the presence of CNT and SCF. © 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.