Failure Modes in Sandwich Beams With Composite Face-Sheets and PVC Foam Cores

Sandwich beams with glass-fibre reinforced plastic faces and PVC foam cores were manufactured and tested in three point bending. The experiments were compared with analytical predictions of beam behaviour for three failure modes: face microbuckling, core shear collapse, and local indentation. A new model for indentation failure was developed which gives accurate predictions for ultimate strengths of sandwich beams that fail due to indentation.