Comparison of glass/epoxy and hemp/epoxy honeycomb core with MWCNT filler on its comprehensive performance in buckling, static and dynamic behaviors of sandwich composite plates

Abstract

The non-biodegradable nature of synthetic composites has driven the composite manufacturing industry and researchers to explore biodegradable materials. To utilize these biodegradable composites, which often have compromised properties, in static and dynamic load-bearing applications as alternatives to synthetic composites, a comprehensive comparison is essential. This study compares the buckling, vibration, and deflection characteristics of four types of honeycomb sandwich composites: glass fiber-reinforced epoxy (GFRE), multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced GFRE, hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy (HFRE), and MWCNT-reinforced HFRE with MWCNT/GFRE skin. MWCNTs were added to both GFRE and HFRE honeycombs to enhance core characteristics. The effects of adding MWCNTs to the skins of these sandwich composites on all characteristics were investigated numerically. The elastic constants required for the numerical simulations were determined using the alternative dynamic approach. A finite element model based on higher-order deformation theory was used to perform the simulations under various boundary conditions. The findings reveal that the HFRE honeycomb sandwich composite with added MWCNTs exhibits compromised but competitive static and dynamic characteristics compared to the GFRE honeycomb sandwich composite with added MWCNTs. Additionally, the inclusion of MWCNTs in the skin results in superior performance for the HFRE honeycomb sandwich compared to the GFRE counterpart. This study demonstrates the potential of MWCNT-reinforced biodegradable composites in applications traditionally dominated by synthetic composites.