Mechanical behavior of sandwich panels with hollow Al–Si tubes core construction

A new type of lightweight sandwich panels consisting of vertically aligned hollow Al–Si alloy tubes as core construction and carbon fiber composite face sheets was designed. The hollow Al–Si alloy tubes were fabricated using precision casting and were bonded to the face sheets using an epoxy adhesive. The out-of-plane compression (i.e. core crushing), in-plane compression, and three-point bending response of the panels were tested until failure. The hollow Ai–Si alloy tubes core configuration show superior specific strength under crushing compared to common metallic and stochastic foam cores. Under in-plane compression and three-point bending, the buckling of face sheets and debonding of hollow cores from the face sheets were observed. Simple analytical relationships based on the concepts of mechanics of materials were provided for the compression tests, which estimate the sandwich panels’ strength with high fidelity. For three-point bending, detailed finite element analysis was used to model the response and initial failure of the sandwich panels.     

Graded conventional-auxetic Kirigami sandwich structures: Flatwise compression and edgewise loading

The work describes the manufacturing and testing of graded conventional/auxetic honeycomb cores. The graded honeycombs are manufactured using Kevlar woven fabric/914 epoxy prepreg using Kirigami techniques, which consist in a combination of Origami and ply-cut processes. The cores are used to manufacture sandwich panels for flatwise compression and edgewise loading. The compressive modulus and compressive strength of stabilized (sandwich) honeycombs are found to be higher than those of bare honeycombs, and with density-averaged properties enhanced compared to other sandwich panels offered in the market place. The modulus and strength of graded sandwich panel under quasi-static edgewise loading vary with different failure mode mechanisms, and offer also improvements towards available panels from open literature. Edgewise impact loading shows a strong directionality of the mechanical response. When the indenter impacts the auxetic portion of the graded core, the strong localization of the damage due to the negative Poisson’s ratio effect contains significantly the maximum dynamic displacement of the sandwich panel.     

复合材料波纹夹层圆柱壳设计及轴压性能

结构轻量化是航空航天发展的永恒主题, 波纹夹层圆柱壳作为常见的轻质结构形式, 在航空航天领域具有很大的发展空间。采用模具热压法, 制备出纵向和环向碳纤维复合材料波纹夹层圆柱壳, 其中芯子整体成型, 面板分瓣制备。采用经典板壳屈曲理论, 分析纵向和环向波纹夹层圆柱壳的轴压力学性能, 得到了欧拉屈曲、整体屈曲、局部屈曲和面板压溃4种失效模式下的极限载荷理论公式。绘制出结构的失效机制图, 直观显示出了失效模式与试件尺寸之间的关系。通过对纵向和环向波纹夹层圆柱壳的轴向压缩试验, 获得了结构的载荷-位移曲线及局部屈曲和面板压溃2种失效模式。结果表明:纵向波纹夹层圆柱壳的轴向承载能力及载荷/质量效率优于环向波纹夹层圆柱壳, 在一定范围内增加圆柱壳面板的厚度、减小圆柱壳的高度可提高结构的载荷/质量效率。      

Compression and impact testing of two-layer composite pyramidal-core sandwich panels

Quasi-static uniform compression tests and low-velocity concentrated impact tests were conducted to reveal the failure mechanisms and energy absorption capacity of two-layer carbon fiber composite sandwich panels with pyramidal truss cores. Three different volume-fraction cores (i.e., with different relative densities) were fabricated: 1.25%, 1.81%, and 2.27%. Two-layer sandwich panels with identical volume-fraction cores (either 1.25% or 2.27%), and also stepwise graded panels consisting of one light and one heavy core, were investigated under uniform quasi-static compression. Under quasi-static compression, load peaks were identified with complete failure of individual truss layers due to strut buckling or strut crushing, and specific energy absorption was estimated for different core configurations. In the impact test, the damage resulting from low-velocity concentrated impact was investigated. Our results show that compared with glass fiber woven textile truss cores, two-layer carbon fiber composite pyramidal truss cores have comparable specific energy absorptions, and thus could be used in the development of novel light-weight multifunctional structures.     

Compressive and shear buckling analysis of metal matrix composite sandwich panels under different thermal environments

Combined inplane compressive and shear buckling analysis was conducted on flat rectangular sandwich panels using the Rayleigh-Ritz minium energy method with a consideration of transverse shear effect of the sandwich core. The sandwich panels were fabricated with titanium honeycomb core and laminated metal matrix composite face sheets. The results show that slightly slender (along the unidirectional compressive loading axis) rectangular sandwich panels have the most desirable stiffness-to-weight ratios for aerospace structural applications; the degradation of buckling strength sandwich panels with rising temperature is faster in shear than in compression; and the fiber orientation of the face sheets for optimum combined-load buckling strength of sandwich panels is a strong function of both loading condition and panel aspect ratio. Under the same specific weight and panel aspect ratio, a sandwich panel with metal matrix composite face sheets has a much higher buckling strength than one having monolithic face sheets.     

明胶鸟弹撞击复合材料蜂窝夹芯板试验

开展明胶鸟弹撞击复合材料蜂窝夹芯板试验,研究夹芯结构在软体高速冲击下的损伤形式,分析相关因素对结构动态响应结果的影响。通过CT扫描对复合材料蜂窝夹芯板内部进行检测可知,面板出现分层、基体开裂、纤维断裂、凹陷、向胞内屈曲等损伤形式,蜂窝芯出现芯材压溃、与面板脱粘的损伤形式;分析复合材料蜂窝夹芯板后面板的动态变形过程及撞击中心处位移-时间数据可知,复合材料蜂窝夹芯板在撞击过程中出现由全局弯曲变形主导和局部变形主导的两种变形模式;通过对比不同工况下的复合材料蜂窝夹芯板损伤程度可知,复合材料蜂窝夹芯板损伤程度随鸟弹撞击速度的增加而增大;蜂窝芯高度为10 mm的复合材料蜂窝夹芯板较蜂窝芯高度为5 mm的复合材料蜂窝夹芯板的损伤程度大;初始动能较大的球形鸟弹较圆柱形鸟弹对复合材料蜂窝夹芯板造成的冲击损伤程度更大。      

Compression and bending performances of carbon fiber reinforced lattice-core sandwich composites

To restrict debonding, carbon fiber reinforced lattice-core sandwich composites with compliant skins were designed and manufactured. Compression behaviors of the lattice composites and sandwich columns with different skin thicknesses were tested. Bending performances of the sandwich panels were explored by three-point bending experiments. Two typical failure mechanisms of the lattice-core sandwich structures, delaminating and local buckling were revealed by the experiments. Failure criteria were suggested and gave consistent analytical predictions. For panels with stiff skins, delamination is the dominant failure style. Cell dimensions, fracture toughness of the adhesives and the strength of the sandwich skin decide the critical load capacity of the lattice-core sandwich structure. The mono-cell buckling and the succeeding local buckling are dominant for the sandwich structures with more compliant skin sheets. Debonding is restricted within one cell in bending and two cells in compression for lattice-core sandwich panels with compliant face sheets and softer lattice cores.     

The influence of core height and face plate thickness on the response of honeycomb sandwich panels subjected to blast loading

This paper reports on an investigation into the behaviour of circular sandwich panels with aluminium honeycomb cores subjected to air blast loading. Explosive tests were performed on sandwich panels consisting of mild steel face plates and aluminium honeycomb cores. The loading was generated by detonating plastic explosives at a pre-determined stand-off distance. Core height and face plate thickness were varied and the results are compared with previous experiments. It was observed that the panels exhibited permanent face plate deflection and tearing, and the honeycomb core exhibited crushing and densification. It was found that increasing the core thickness delayed the onset of core densification and decreased back plate deflection. Increasing the plate thickness was also found to decrease back plate deflection, although the panels then had a substantially higher overall mass.     

Manufacturing and testing of a sandwich panel honeycomb core reinforced with natural-fiber fabrics

A novel honeycomb core made of a natural-fiber reinforced composite consisting of a vinylester matrix reinforced with jute fabric is introduced. Six-mm- and 10-mm-cell honeycombs are manufactured using two compression-molding techniques. Best results are obtained for the mold with lateral compression. Experimental tests are conducted to characterize the elastic response of the composite and the core response under flatwise compression. The effective elastic properties of the core are computed via a homogenization analysis and finite element modeling. The results of the homogenization analysis are in very good agreement with estimations done using analytical formulas from the bibliography. The flatwise compression tests show that the core failure mechanisms are yarn pull-out and fiber breaking. The large wall thickness relative to the cell size of the jute–vinylester cores, which inhibits buckling, and the heterogeneities in the composite, which are preferential damage initiation sites, explain the observed behavior. When compared in terms of the specific strengths, the jute/vinylester cores introduced in this work show similar performances to those of their commercially available counterparts. The results from this study suggest that jute-reinforced cores have the potential to be an alternative to standard cores in applications that sustain compressive static loads.     

Some theoretical considerations on the dynamic response of sandwich structures under impulsive loading

A theoretical solution is obtained to predict the dynamic response of peripherally clamped square metallic sandwich panels with either honeycomb core or aluminium foam core under blast loading. In the theoretical analysis, the deformation of sandwich structures is separated into three phases, corresponding to the transfer of impulse to the front face velocity, core crushing and overall structural bending/stretching, respectively. The cellular core is assumed to have a progressive crushing deformation mode in the out-of-plane direction, with a dynamically enhanced plateau stress (for honeycombs). The in-plane strength of the cellular core is assumed unaffected by the out-of-plane compression. By adopting an energy dissipation rate balance approach developed by earlier researchers for monolithic square plates, but incorporating a newly developed yield condition for the sandwich panels in terms of bending moment and membrane force, “upper” and “lower” bounds are obtained for the maximum permanent deflections and response time. Finally, comparative studies are carried out to investigate: (1) influence of the change in the in-plane strength of the core after the out-of-plane compression; (2) performances of a square monolith panel and a square sandwich panel with the same mass per unit area; and (3) analytical models of sandwich beams and circular and square sandwich plates.     

等腰梯形蜂窝芯玻璃钢夹芯板的面内压缩性能

为研究等腰梯形蜂窝芯玻璃钢夹芯板面内压缩破坏机制, 利用材料试验机对夹芯板面内压缩性能进行了试验测试, 并开展了模拟研究。结果表明: 夹芯板的面内压缩破坏方式主要有面板折断、夹芯板屈曲失稳和夹芯板中面板与蜂窝芯脱粘3种类型。面板为夹芯板面内压缩的主要承载构件, 蜂窝芯对面板起到固支作用。面板结构参数与材料参数为影响夹芯板面内压缩抗压强度与抗压刚度主要因素, 多数蜂窝芯的结构参数与材料参数对夹芯板面内压缩抗压强度的影响微弱, 而个别蜂窝芯的结构参数对夹芯板面内压缩抗压刚度的影响比较显著。夹芯板体积一定时, 随着蜂窝芯胞体单元数量的增加, 夹芯板面内压缩的抗压强度与抗压刚度逐渐增大。      

“Segment-wise model” for theoretical simulation of barely visible indentation damage in composite sandwich beams: Part II – Experimental verification and discussion

When localized transverse loading is applied to a sandwich structure, the facesheet locally deflects and the core crushes. A residual dent induced by the core crushing significantly degrades the mechanical properties of the sandwich structure. In a previous paper, the authors established a “segment-wise model” for theoretical simulation of barely visible indentation damage in honeycomb sandwich beams with composite facesheets. Honeycomb sandwich beam was divided into many segments based on the periodic shape of the honeycomb and complicated through-thickness characteristics of the core were integrated into each segment. In this paper, the new model is validated by experiments using specimens with different types of honeycomb cores. In addition, the damage growth mechanism under indentation load was clarified from the viewpoint of the reaction force from the core to the facesheet. The applicability of the model to other types of core materials is also discussed.     

Honeycomb cores with enhanced buckling strength

Honeycombs, as cores in sandwich panels, are in wider use in transport applications where density-specific performance is critical. The ability of honeycombs to withstand through-thickness compression, and in particular resist buckling, is a key performance factor in many applications. However reports of the systematic study of buckling limits in such materials are scant. Honeycomb unit cells with a range of geometries, including conventional hexagonal, re-entrant hexagonal geometries, and modifications of both thereof, were tested mechanically and simulated via finite element modelling. The primary figure of merit was the density-specific peak compressive stress immediately prior to onset of buckling collapse. The conventional hexagonal honeycomb unit cell, as examined here, is not well optimised for density-specific peak stress; in comparison the re-entrant unit cell examined here had approximately 13% higher density-specific peak stress. Modifications to these geometries, such as face stiffeners and fillets, increased absolute values of peak stress but in most cases were deleterious or at best neutral to density-specific peak stress due to the subsequent increase mass of the honeycombs.     

The effects of foam filling on compressive response of hexagonal cell aluminum honeycombs under axial loading-experimental study

In this paper the effects of foam filling of honeycomb panels on their plastic behavior and mechanical properties are studied experimentally. Five types of Al 5052-H39 honeycombs in bare and foam filled conditions are subjected to quasi-static axial compressive loading. The panels are selected so that the effects of parameters such as the cell size, the cell walls thickness and the panel thickness on the mean crushing strength, energy absorption capacity and the wavelength of the folds could be investigated. Tests show that foam filling of panels increases their mean crushing strength and energy absorption capacity up to 300% and the less the honeycomb density the greater the effect of foam filling. Furthermore, mean crushing strength of foam filled panels is larger than the sum of the mean crushing strengths of bare honeycomb and foam alone. The wavelength of folds and densification strain in foam filled panels are smaller than those of bare honeycombs. These tests also showed that unlike the theoretic formula the panel thickness influences the mean crushing strength of honeycomb.     

Buckling,collapse and failure analysis of FRP sandwich panels

Rectangular orthotropic fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) sandwich panels were tested for buckling in uni-axial compression. The panels, with 0.32 cm (0.125 in.) face sheets and a 1.27 cm (0.5 in.) core of either balsa or linear poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) foam, were tested in two sizes: 154×77 cm² (72×36 in.²) and 102×77 cm² (48×36 in.²). The sandwich panels were fabricated using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. The two short edges of the sandwich panels were clamped, while the two long edges were simply supported for testing. The clamped panel ends were potted into a steel frame. The experimental elastic buckling loads were then measured using strain gauges fixed to both sides of the panels. A total of 12 panels were tested under uni-axial compression. Bifurcation in the load versus engineering strain curve was noted in all cases. For all six sandwich panels tested using balsa core, the type of failure was easily identified as face sheet delamination followed by core shear failure. For all six PVC foam core sandwich panels tested, the type of failure consisted of core shear failure with little or no face sheet delamination. In the failed balsa core panels there was little or no evidence of balsa remaining on the FRP face sheet, however, in the PVC foam core panels there were ample amounts of foam left on the FRP face sheet. It was concluded that although the buckling loads for the foam core panels were not as high as those for the balsa core panels, PVC foam core bonding to the FRP face sheets was superior to balsa core bonding.     

高速冲击载荷作用下钎焊蜂窝夹层板动态响应

目的 以钎焊高温合金蜂窝夹层板为研究对象,分析其在弹丸高速冲击作用下的力学性能。方法 采用轻气炮冲击加载试验结合有限元模拟,对蜂窝夹层板开展不同冲击强度下的动态响应和失效研究。开展含高速冲击损伤的蜂窝夹层板侧压试验,研究损伤模式对剩余强度的影响。结果 冲击强度对夹层板的失效过程和失效模式有着明显的影响,当冲击条件不足以使得迎弹面发生侵彻时,夹层板失效为表面压痕损伤;随着冲击强度的提高,出现不同程度的局部芯层压缩;当冲击强度大于临界值时,迎/背弹面陆续被侵彻,夹层板出现侵入损伤及贯穿损伤。结论 高速冲击损伤使得蜂窝夹层板的侧压失效模式,由理想塑性屈曲转变为局部失稳,侧压极限载荷大幅降低。     

倾斜胞壁Nomex蜂窝芯压剪复合力学响应

成形具有一定曲率的夹层结构时,需要将蜂窝芯铣削成曲面形状,造成蜂窝胞壁呈一定倾角,进而降低蜂窝夹芯结构面外承载能力。为了定量化分析面外载荷作用下倾斜胞壁蜂窝芯的力学性能,建立了倾斜胞壁蜂窝芯面外压剪复合有限元模型,并通过设计专用Arcan夹具实现蜂窝芯的面外压剪复合加载,用于验证模型的有效性。对比仿真与实验结果,发现蜂窝芯压剪响应及胞壁变形模式吻合较好。利用验证的有限元模型对胞壁倾角范围为0°～40°的蜂窝芯在面外压剪复合载荷下的力学响应进行了研究,结果表明随着蜂窝胞壁倾角的增大,蜂窝芯面外承载能力逐渐降低;当胞壁倾斜角由0°增加到40°,初始应力峰值下降最大幅度为47.7%,平原阶段强度下降幅度为29%;进一步分析了倾斜胞壁蜂窝芯截面芯格尺寸与胞壁倾角的几何关系,将倾斜胞壁蜂窝芯等效为具有相同截面尺寸的垂直胞壁蜂窝芯,推导了倾斜胞壁蜂窝芯在面外压缩及剪切载荷作用下的坍塌强度,揭示了胞壁倾角对蜂窝芯坍塌强度影响机制。     

Effects of thermal exposure on mechanical behavior of carbon fiber composite pyramidal truss core sandwich panel

An experimental study was performed to investigate the effect of high temperature exposure on mechanical properties of carbon fiber composite sandwich panel with pyramidal truss core. For this purpose, sandwich panels were exposed to different temperatures for different times. Then sandwich panels were tested under out-of-plane compression till failure after thermal exposure. Our results indicated that both the thermal exposure temperature and time were the important factors affecting the failure of sandwich panels. Severe reductions in residual compressive modulus and strength were observed when sandwich panels were exposed to 300 °C for 6 h. The effect of high temperature exposure on failure mode of sandwich panel was revealed as well. Delamination and low fiber to matrix adhesion caused by the degradation of the matrix properties were found for the specimens exposed to 300 °C. The modulus and strength of sandwich panels at different thermal exposure temperatures and times were predicted with proposed method and compared with measured results. Experimental results showed that the predicted values were close to experimental values.     

Finite element analysis of sandwich panels with stepwise graded aluminum honeycomb cores under blast loading

This paper presents details and brief results of an experimental investigation on the response of metallic sandwich panels with stepwise graded aluminum honeycomb cores under blast loading. Based on the experiments, corresponding finite element simulations have been undertaken using the LS-DYNA software. It is observed that the core compression stage was coupled with the fluid–structure interaction stage, and the compression of the core layer decreased from the central to the peripheral zone. The blast resistance capability of sandwich panels was moderately sensitive to the core relative density and graded distribution. For the graded panels with relative density descending core arrangement, the core plastic energy dissipation and the transmitted force attenuation were larger than that of the ungraded ones under the same loading condition. The graded sandwich panels, especially for relative density descending core arrangement, would display a better blast resistance than the ungraded ones at a specific loading region.     

Crush dynamics of square honeycomb sandwich cores

Square honeycombs are effective as cores for all‐metal sandwich plates in that they combine excellent crushing strength and energy absorption with good stiffness and strength in out‐of‐plane shear and in‐plane stretch. In applications where sandwich plates must absorb significant energy in crushing under intense impulsive loads, dynamic effects play a significant role in the behaviour of the core. Three distinct dynamic effects can be identified: (i) inertial resistance, (ii) inertial stabilization of webs against buckling, and (iii) material strain‐rate dependence. Each contributes to dynamic strengthening of the core. These effects are illustrated and quantified with the aid of detailed numerical calculations for rates of deformation characteristic of shock loads in air and water. A continuum model for high rate deformation of square honeycomb cores is introduced that can be used to simulate core behaviour in large structural calculations when it is not feasible to mesh the detailed core geometry. The performance of the continuum model is demonstrated for crushing deformations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.