Improving Damage Tolerance with Energy Absorbing Mesh in Composite Laminates: An Experimental Study

This study aims to evaluate the impact resistance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) skin sandwich structures having strain sensitive, energy absorbing D3O® mesh cores. CFRP plates were fabricated having 5, 7, 10 and 14 layers respectively. The 5 and 7 layer plates were used as facing skins for sandwich structures containing D3O® mesh as the cores. Impact energy absorption characteristics were assessed using Charpy tests and 4 J low...