Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Steel and Composite Structures, cilt.58, sa.4, ss.459-476, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study investigated the effect of fiber type on the mechanical behavior of sandwich composite structures with a rubberized cork core. The specimens were fabricated using Kevlar/epoxy and glass/epoxy as face sheets, while a low-density, energy-absorbing rubberized cork was used as the core material in all samples. The manufacturing process was carried out through hand lay-up, followed by pressing and oven curing to ensure proper bonding and final mechanical strength. To evaluate the mechanical performance, the samples underwent standard three-point flexural and low-velocity impact tests. The flexural test results indicated that although both types of composites exhibited suitable elastic behavior in the initial stages, their ultimate flexural strength was relatively low, with failure occurring under moderate loads. In impact tests, Kevlar/epoxy face sheet samples demonstrated higher impact resistance and suffered relatively less damage, whereas glass/epoxy samples showed greater vulnerability and experienced larger deformations. Analysis of force-time, force-displacement, and energy absorption curves revealed that the cellular structure of cork played a crucial role in preventing full penetration and effectively absorbing part of the impact energy.