Design and modeling of a combined embedded enhanced honeycomb with tunable mechanical properties

Abstract

Honeycomb structures are increasingly being used in many important fields. A novel combined embedded enhanced honeycomb (CEEH) in developed in this paper based on the two existing embedded enhanced honeycombs, the single rib embedded enhanced honeycomb (SREEH) and the rhombic grid embedded enhanced honeycomb (RGEEH). Analytical model related to the in-plane Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio is built and validated by using two different finite element (FE) models (3D beam model and 3D solid model). The in-plane elastic behavior of the honeycomb is also investigated against the geometrical parameters by using the numerically validated analytical solutions. The results show that the new CEEH can achieve a wide range value of Poisson’s ratio and Young’s modulus by tailoring geometric parameters. The results also show that the new CEEH exhibits higher x- directional specific stiffness than SREEH while higher y- directional specific stiffness than RGEEH. Moreover, the new CEEH can weaken even eliminate the difference between the two principal directions which can be hardly achieved by the SREEH and RGEEH. Given these advantages, this new design may be promising in some applications. This work provides a new insight into the designs of embedded enhanced honeycombs.