Computational assessment of sustainable balsa and basalt composite sandwich for structural marine applications

In response to environmental challenges and the demand for sustainability, this study explores a novel engineering structure, harnessing the potential of bio-based materials within the framework of composite sandwich structures. This investigation employs finite element modeling to assess sandwich structures composed of End-grain balsa wood and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) facesheets. These facesheets incorporate glass, carbon, and basalt fibers, enabling a direct comparison between conventional and bio-based materials. Mechanical responses are evaluated under numerical flexural loading using Abaqus/Implicit, with a specialized wood material model integrated via a User Material (UMAT) subroutine. A 2D Hashin failure criterion assesses FRP facesheets. Intriguingly, findings indicate minimal influence from FRP on structural performance, while balsa wood and the core-casings interface emerge as decisive factors.