Three-point bending test of metal and composite sandwich panels with grid stiffened core

Composite sandwich structures with grid stiffened core (SSGSC) are one of the new structural configurations applied in advanced industries such as aerospace, that are made of two thin face sheet layers attached to the top and bottom of a grid stiffened core. Due to the good advantages such as high specific strength, not only in aerospace but also they are used in other engineering applications, such as military industry, ship building, rail transport, oil platform etc. In the present study three composite SSGSC samples made of different material and thiknesses are fabricated with hand lay-up method using a silicon rubber mold and epoxy resin. Also, two metallic samples of the same dimensions as the copmposite ones, including a monolithic and a SSGSC samples made of aluminum are fabricated. In order to study their behavior subjected to the quasi-static transverse loads, the samples undergo three-point bending tests. Results of the practical tests on the composite samples showed that beyond the failure of the face sheets, the grid stiffened core will tolerate the load, also there are no delamination between the face sheet layers due to good curing process. It was found that changing the fibers of the face sheet from Glass to Carbon with the same thikness, improves strength-to-weight ratio of the SSGSC samples rather than increasing the thickness of the face sheet of the same material.