An investigation of the effect of structural parameters on the impact properties of sandwich-structured shock absorbers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop an impact absorber with a core made of sustainable textile waste as an alternative to the conventional honeycomb structure. In this case, the core structure is made of cotton fiber webs recycled from denim waste, and the outer shell is made of polypropylene plates reinforced with carbon, jute, and E-glass woven fabrics. Production of the sandwich structure is carried out using the hot press method. In addition to the fabric types and layer sequences utilized in the outer shell, the geometry of the core structure is altered, and their effect on the drop-weight impact resistance is examined. The prominent results emphasize that the use of high-performance fabrics in the outer shell facing the outer surface increases the impact resistance, and the sizes of the holes to be obtained in the core structure should be optimized in order to be effective in energy absorption. The results reveal that these developed sandwich structures can constitute a promising alternative for the automotive industry.