Loading Rate Effects on Foam Cores for Marine Sandwich Structures

Abstract

This paper presents first results from a project which aims to generate foam core properties under loading rates representative of those encountered during wave impact of racingyachts. First, special instrumentation enabled shear strain rates to be measured in-situ. Then a symmetrical shear test was designed to allow shear stress-strain behaviour to be determined at rates corresponding to those measured at sea. Image analysis was used to validate the test set-up. First results for high density foams indicate that quasi-static data may suffice for design.