Ductile deformation mechanisms and designing instructions for integrated woven textile sandwich composites

To suggest designing instructions for integrated woven textile sandwich composites (IWTSCs), anti-crush properties of IWTSC and the corresponding ductile deformation mechanism were investigated. Quasi-static out-of-plane crushing and dynamic impact tests were carried out. Typical deformation curves with a relative stable deformation plateau were obtained from tests. Failure of IWTSC is ductile through coupled compression–shear deformation. An analytical plastic model was proposed to explain ductile mechanism of IWTSC qualitatively, including densification caused by interactions among inclined piles. Combining with qualitative analysis, comparisons between two kinds of IWTSC panels with piles of different density and thickness reveal the key to design a ductile IWTSC.

► Failure styles of integrated woven textile sandwich composite (IWTSC) were revealed.
► A qualitative model was proposed to describe deformation mechanisms of IWTSC.
► Thickness, slenderness and distance of piles are mainly concerned to design IWTSC.