A Case Study of Structural Core Application in Marine Vessels

Fiber reinforced composite sandwich construction (FRP Sandwich) is the most common method of fabrication for the worldwide marine industry. Marine governing bodies such as The American Bureau of Shipping and Det norske Veritas in response to the widespread use of FRP Sandwich construction have established precise guidelines with regards to skin and core material requirements for various types of vessels. However, the methodology that is used by each builder to design the sandwich laminate can vary considerably. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the real world use of semi-rigid PVC foam core in vessels ranging in size from 5' to 200' in length. The typical skin thickness for each skin will also be evaluated.