Investigation of the Usability of MWCNTs Filled GFR/Aluminum Honeycomb Sandwich Composites for Automotive Vehicles

Abstract

In order to provide fuel saving and performance in gasoline/diesel automotive vehicles, and to increase the long range of the electric battery in electric vehicles, lightening studies in the weight of automotive vehicles are carried out by researchers at the automotive R&D (Research and Development) centers in the university and industry. The reducing of weight of automotive vehicles finds out some problems such as low crashworthiness and safety. These highlight problems bring something into the forefront the use of ultra-light honeycomb sandwich composites having high mechanical properties in the automotive industry. In addition, the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced honeycomb sandwich composites can be further improved by limiting the formation of damages during impact by using nanotechnology. In this study, the usability of multi walled nanoparticles (MWCNTs) filled and unfilled GFR/Aluminum honeycomb sandwich composites instead of metal protection bars in the doors of automotive vehicles was investigated. It was found that 0.3%wt MWCNTs increased the average maximum bending loads, displacements and impact energy absorptions by about 2.1, 1.36 and 1.5 times respectively according to compared to unfilled GFR/Aluminum honeycomb sandwich composites. The slip-stick failure mechanism was observed at interfaces of unfilled GFR composite face sheets and aluminum honeycomb core. The delamination failures were found as dominant failure as result of poor adhesion for them. It was detected with microscope and SEM analysis that MWCNTs restricted the occurrence of failures during the bending load and impact. MWCNTs provided the fillet occurrence at interfaces by increasing the contact bonding areas. Plastic deformation was found as dominant failure for them. It is thought that the crashworthiness and safety can be improved by using MWCNTs filled GFR/aluminum honeycomb sandwich composites in car doors instead of metal protection bars.