High Compression Performance and Energy Absorption of Wood-Based Grid Sandwich Structure with Jute Fabric/Epoxy Composite Core

The wood-based grid sandwich structure with a high load-to-mass ratio and specific strength was prepared with the core of KH-560-modified jute (Corchoruscapsularis) fabric-reinforced epoxy laminated composite (JFRELC). The compressing behavior and energy absorption characteristics of pure grid cores (GC50#, GC80#) and grid sandwich structures (GS50#, GS80#) were analyzed and compared. The failure mechanism of the fracture surfaces of jute fabrics of grid sandwich cores was clarified by SEM. The results showed that the core made of JFRELC-80# had a good performance for the grid sandwich structure by tenon-and-mortise linking. The load-bearing capacity and energy absorption performance of this wood-based grid sandwich structure can be comparable to that of some glass and carbon fiber reinforced composite sandwich structures, and even show certain advantages. The failure modes of the grid sandwich structure were panel cracking, core buckling and core collapse. The failure mechanisms of jute fabrics in epoxy resin were fiber pull-out and fiber splitting.