Behaviour of composite sandwich foam-laminated glass/epoxy under solicitation static and fatigue

The purpose of this work is the study of the mechanical behaviour in 3-point bending, in static and fatigue mode, of two different composite sandwiches laminate foam with unidirectional reinforcements and crossed SMS [04] and SMS [0/902/0]. These two sandwich composites were developed in laboratory. The specimens are made of fiberglass and epoxy resin for skins and PVC foam for the core. The tests in the static mode permitted the determination of the mechanical characteristics necessary to the fatigue tests and the mechanical behaviour of the materials. The fatigue tests made in controlled force gave curves which inform about the lifetimes of the materials. The observations of the fracture surfaces revealed the different modes of damages causing the material fracture. The lifetimes are characterized by the Wöhler curves. This study evidenced the influence of the reinforcement orientation on endurance of the studied material.