Vibration characteristics of fiber reinforced honeycomb panels: experimental study

The recent interest in new lightweight materials has driven research into the use of sandwich panels. This study concerns honeycomb-cored sandwich panels manufactured from natural fibre reinforced polyethylene (PE) composites. In order to evaluate the vibrational performance of these cores under dynamic loads, the modes, the natural frequencies and the damping of the sandwich system were identified experimentally. An impact hammer provided excitation to a freely suspended panel and the response was measured with a laser vibrometer. Frequency responses were measured and subsequently modal properties were estimated. Experimental dynamic tests were carried out using specimens with different core materials. The influence of the fibre reinforcement on the natural frequencies and modal damping were investigated.