Comparison of Low-Velocity Impact Properties between Foam Sandwich Composites and Composite Laminates

Foam sandwich composites (thickness of 12 mm), with composite faces from carbon/epoxy unidirectional performs and cores from Rohacell(PMI), were fabricated. The face sheets of the foam sandwich composites were laminated as ［0°］8,［0°, 90°］2s structures. The composite laminates (thickness of 2 mm) composed of the same material with the face sheets of foam sandwich composites were prepared, whose structures were ［0°］16 and ［0°, 90°］4s . The low velocity impact properties of the two composites were studied. The results show that, for both the composites, the face sheet with cross structure could stand higher impact loads and with better impact resistance than the face sheet with unidirectional structure. Additionally, the impact resistance of the foam sandwich composites were obviously superior to that of the composite laminates at the two lamination methods.