Evaluation of composite sandwich panels fabricated using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding

Two composite laminated panels and one composite sandwich panel were fabricated using Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM). One laminated panel was fabricated from woven E-glass and Vinyl-Ester resin, the other from woven Carbon and Vinyl-Ester resin. The sandwich panel was fabricated from woven E-glass, Vinyl-Ester resin and PVC foam. The measured fiber volume of the E-glass panel is 42%. The calculated fiber volume of the Carbon panel is 50%. Tension, compression, and shear tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of the composite panels. The measured tensile modulus, ultimate tensile strength and Poisson's ratio of the E-glass panel are 23.03 GPa, 325 MPa, and 0.11, respectively. The measured shear modulus of E-glass panel is 3.86 GPa. The measured tensile modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and Poisson's ratio of the Carbon panel are 47.51 GPa, 436 MPa, and 0.04, respectively. The measured shear modulus of the Carbon panel was measured as 2.81 GPa. Three-point and four-point bending tests were conducted on sandwich beams machined from the sandwich panel. Predicted beam deflections based on the properties calculated from face-sheet and core properties were in close agreement with measured values for four-point bending, but they were not for three-point bending.