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Experimental and numerical investigation of flexural behavior of balsa core sandwich composite structures

  • Tuğberk Önal

    Dr. Tuğberk Önal received his PhD in Engineering Mechanics at Atatürk University, his MSC in Machine Theory and Dynamics degrees at Atatürk University and his BSc degree at Atatürk University Mechanical Engineering Department. He is currently member in the Hekimhan Mehmet Emin Sungur Vocational School, Malatya Turgut Özal University, Malatya, Turkey. His research interests include composites mechanic, fiber reinforced composites, sandwich composites, and failure analysis.

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    and Şemsettin Temiz

    Dr. Şemsettin Temiz received his PhD in Engineering Mechanics and his MSC in Mechanical Engineering degrees at Atatürk University and his BSc degree at Firat University Mechanical Engineering Department. He was a Mechanical Engineering faculty member at Atatürk University from 1995 to 2011 and at Batman University 2012–2016 before joining İnönü Üniversity in 2016. Dr. Temiz has counseled ten graduate students (7 Ph.D.’s). He has published more than 50 refereed journal articles.

Published/Copyright: May 4, 2023
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Abstract

The mechanical properties of bio-core sandwich composite structures fabricated in different configurations were investigated experimentally and numerically in this study. Balsa woods with thicknesses of 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm were used in the core element. Glass fiber/epoxy composites with 8 and 12 layers at [0°]2s, [0/90°]s, and [±45°]s fiber orientation zones were used on the bottom and top surfaces of the sandwich structure. The effects of external surface fiber arrangement variation, the number of layers, and core thickness increase on the flexural damage load of sandwich structures produced by the vacuum infusion method were investigated. For this purpose, a three-point bending test was applied to the sandwich specimens. Maximum damage load values were determined using the three-point bending test performed in accordance with ASTM C-393 standard. Experimental and numerical data were compared with the finite element model created in the ANSYS package program. As a result of the tests, the damaged specimens were visualized and the types of damage to the balsa wood and composite element were determined.


Corresponding author: Tuğberk Önal, Malatya Turgut Özal University, Malatya 44210, Türkiye, E-mail:

Funding source: Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Inonu University

Award Identifier / Grant number: FDK-2018-1249

About the authors

Tuğberk Önal

Dr. Tuğberk Önal received his PhD in Engineering Mechanics at Atatürk University, his MSC in Machine Theory and Dynamics degrees at Atatürk University and his BSc degree at Atatürk University Mechanical Engineering Department. He is currently member in the Hekimhan Mehmet Emin Sungur Vocational School, Malatya Turgut Özal University, Malatya, Turkey. His research interests include composites mechanic, fiber reinforced composites, sandwich composites, and failure analysis.

Şemsettin Temiz

Dr. Şemsettin Temiz received his PhD in Engineering Mechanics and his MSC in Mechanical Engineering degrees at Atatürk University and his BSc degree at Firat University Mechanical Engineering Department. He was a Mechanical Engineering faculty member at Atatürk University from 1995 to 2011 and at Batman University 2012–2016 before joining İnönü Üniversity in 2016. Dr. Temiz has counseled ten graduate students (7 Ph.D.’s). He has published more than 50 refereed journal articles.

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: The authors gratefully acknowledge that this study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Inonu University (Project ID: FDK-2018-1249).

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Published Online: 2023-05-04
Published in Print: 2023-07-26

© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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