The response of singly curved fibre reinforced sandwich and laminate composite panels subjected to localised blast loads
type: CreativeWork
description: This report presents results from a study on the response of singly curved fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) sandwich and laminate panels subjected to localised blast loads. The aim of the project was to investigate and compare the blast mitigation potential of each panel type and the influence of curvature on the response. Three radii of curvature were examined for both panel types, namely infinite (flat), 1000mm and 500mm. The FRP laminate panels were designed to consist of 1-5 layers of Eglass fibre reinforced epoxy sheets. The FRP sandwich panels consisted of a PVC foam core with 6 layers of FRP sheets on either side. Vacuum infusion, with the aid of three moulds, was used to manufacture the panels. The average thicknesses and areal densities of the FRP sandwich and laminate panels were 18.7mm and 4.9mm; and 862-8g/1m2 and 8458-g/m2 respectively. Three point quasi-static flexural tests were conducted on FRP sandwich and laminate specimens where the localised compression failure beneath the central loading bar was evident on both types of structures. The presence of the core reduced the damage observed on the back face of the FRP sandwich specimens. Blast tests were conducted on a horizontal ballistic pendulum at the Blast Impact and Survivability Research Unit (BISRU), University of Cape Town. Localised blasts were generated by detonating circular cylinder PE4 plastic explosives, placed at a constant standoff distance of 10mm. The charge mass ranged from 10g to 32.5g across all the panels. The failure modes of the blast loaded panels were identified by a post-test inspection. The failure mode initiation charts for the F RP sandwich panels revealed that failure modes were initially observed on the front face sheet and core material with slight appearance of delamination on the back face sheet. Increasing the charge mass resulted in the rupture of the front face sheet and penetration of the core. Additional failure of the back face sheet was also evident as the charg…
abstract: This report presents results from a study on the response of singly curved fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) sandwich and laminate panels subjected to localised blast loads. The aim of the project was to investigate and compare the blast mitigation potential of each panel type and the influence of curvature on the response. Three radii of curvature were examined for both panel types, namely infinite (flat), 1000mm and 500mm. The FRP laminate panels were designed to consist of 1-5 layers of Eglass fibre reinforced epoxy sheets. The FRP sandwich panels consisted of a PVC foam core with 6 layers of FRP sheets on either side. Vacuum infusion, with the aid of three moulds, was used to manufacture the panels. The average thicknesses and areal densities of the FRP sandwich and laminate panels were 18.7mm and 4.9mm; and 862-8g/1m2 and 8458-g/m2 respectively. Three point quasi-static flexural tests were conducted on FRP sandwich and laminate specimens where the localised compression failure beneath the central loading bar was evident on both types of structures. The presence of the core reduced the damage observed on the back face of the FRP sandwich specimens. Blast tests were conducted on a horizontal ballistic pendulum at the Blast Impact and Survivability Research Unit (BISRU), University of Cape Town. Localised blasts were generated by detonating circular cylinder PE4 plastic explosives, placed at a constant standoff distance of 10mm. The charge mass ranged from 10g to 32.5g across all the panels. The failure modes of the blast loaded panels were identified by a post-test inspection. The failure mode initiation charts for the F RP sandwich panels revealed that failure modes were initially observed on the front face sheet and core material with slight appearance of delamination on the back face sheet. Increasing the charge mass resulted in the rupture of the front face sheet and penetration of the core. Additional failure of the back face sheet was also evident as the charg…
author: Sinclair, Gregory Maurice
language: eng
date published: 2014
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:23:04Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Department of Mechanical Engineering

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property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13328