Recent interest in Arctic exploration has brought new challenges concerning the mechanical behavior of lightweight materials for offshore structures. Exposure to seawater and cold temperatures are known to degrade the mechanical properties of several materials, thus, compromising the safety of personnel and structures. This study aims to investigate the low-velocity impact behavior of woven carbon/vinyl ester sandwich composites with Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam core at low temperatures for marine applications. The tests were performed in a drop tower impact system with an in-built environmental chamber. Impact responses, such as the contact force, displacement and absorbed energy, at four impact energies of 7.5 J, 15 J, 30 J, and 60 J were determined at four in-situ temperatures of 25°C, 0°C, −25°C and −50°C. Results showed that temperature has a significant influence on the dynamic impact behavior of sandwich composites. The sandwich composites were rendered stiff and brittle as the temperature decreased, which has a detrimental effect on their residual strength and durability. At 7.5 J at all temperatures, the samples experienced matrix cracking, fiber fracture, and delamination at the top face sheet. The samples impacted at 15 J at all temperatures experienced fiber fracture, matrix cracking, and delamination at the top facesheet and localized core crushing/fracture. At 30 J for all the temperatures, the samples exhibited perforation of the top facesheet and penetration into the core. As the temperature decreased, the penetration of the striker into the core increased. At 60 J for all temperatures, the samples experienced perforation of the top facesheet and core, and the back facesheet exhibited varying extent of damage. At −25°C and −50°C, the sandwich composite samples were almost completely perforated. In general, low temperatures rendered the sandwich composites stiff and brittle, resulting in an increase in the degree of damage and more pronounced damage modes. At all impact energies, the sandwich composites were rendered stiff and brittle as the temperature decreased, which has a detrimental effect on their residual strength and durability.

最近对北极勘探的兴趣带来了有关用于海上结构的轻质材料的机械性能的新挑战。已知暴露于海水和低温会降低几种材料的机械性能，从而损害人员和结构的安全性。这项研究旨在研究船用碳/乙烯基酯夹心复合材料与聚氯乙烯（PVC）泡沫芯在低温下的低速冲击行为。测试是在带有内置环境舱的吊塔撞击系统中进行的。在25°C，0°C，-25°的四个原位温度下确定了7.5 J，15 J，30 J和60 J的四个冲击能量下的冲击响应，例如接触力，位移和吸收能°C和-50°C。结果表明，温度对夹芯复合材料的动态冲击行为有重要影响。随着温度的降低，三明治复合材料变得坚硬而脆，这对其残余强度和耐久性产生不利影响。在所有温度下均为7.5 J时，样品的顶面板会发生基体开裂，纤维断裂和分层。在所有温度下均以15 J冲击的样品在顶部面板出现纤维断裂，基体破裂和分层以及局部芯部破碎/断裂。在所有温度下，温度均为30 J，样品的顶面板会出现穿孔并渗入芯中。随着温度降低，撞针向芯的渗透增加。在所有温度下均为60 J 样品经历了顶面板和芯的穿孔，而背面面板表现出不同程度的损坏。在-25°C和-50°C下，夹心复合材料样品几乎完全打孔。通常，低温使夹心复合材料变硬而变脆，导致损坏程度的增加和更明显的损坏模式。在所有冲击能量下，随着温度的降低，夹层复合材料都变得坚硬易碎，这对其残余强度和耐久性产生不利影响。导致损害程度的增加和更明显的损害模式。在所有冲击能量下，随着温度的降低，夹层复合材料都变得坚硬易碎，这对其残余强度和耐久性产生不利影响。导致损害程度的增加和更明显的损害模式。在所有冲击能量下，随着温度的降低，夹层复合材料都变得坚硬易碎，这对其残余强度和耐久性产生不利影响。