Mechanical behavior of fillers: tests and comparisons

This paper focuses on the macro-mechanic properties of fillers obtained by an experimental campaign specifically designed for the characterization of the behaviour of fillers currently applied on yacht hulls and superstructures. Fillers may be considered as two-component particulate composites characterized by type, size and content of glass microspheres, randomly embedded in a resin matrix. Hull and superstructure of yachts are covered by filler to obtain perfectly levelled and smooth surfaces necessary for faired and painted shiny exteriors. Two types of tests were designed and conducted on several different fillers: compression strength test on isolated filler specimens and three point bending test on specimens made by filler applied onto a steel substrate. Load-displacement curves of tested fillers were acquired providing the basis for the characterization of strength and stiffness and for the validation of numerical models.