QSI Response of Foam–Filled Composite Marine Sandwich Hull Panels: Simulation and Experiment

The response of certifiable advanced marine grade hybrid composite sandwich hull panels due to quasi–static indentation (QSI) by a 12.7 mm diameter hemispherical indentor is investigated by means of experiments and finite element (FE) models. Techniques used to model the composite skins and the foam–core of the hull panels are described. The validity of the FE model to simulate the QSI response of three other different certifiable hull panels in simply–supported and rigidly–backed configurations is assessed. The inclusion of a plain woven–roving sheet of E–glass fibre in the composite skins is found to improve the degradation factor employed in an instant stiffness degradation material model. A rigidly–backed configuration is found to decrease the degradation factor.