Non-uniform Compressive Strength of Debonded Sandwich Panels – I. Experimental Investigation

Face/core debond-damaged sandwich panels exposed to non-uniform compression loads are studied. The panel geometry is rectangular with a centrally located circular debond. The study primarily includes experimental methods, but simple finite element calculations are also applied. The complexity of applying a controlled non-uniform compressive load to the test panels requires a strong focus on the development of a suitable testrig. This is done by the extensive use of product development methods. The experimental results based on full-scale testing of 10 GFRP/foam core panels with prefabricated debonds show a considerable strength reduction with increasing debond diameter, with failure mechanisms varying between fast debond propagation and wrinkling-introduced face compression failure for large and small debonds, respectively. Residual strength predictions are based on intact panel testing, and a comparison between a simple numerical model and the experimental results shows fair agreement.