Geometric Sensitivity of Static Equivalent Modeling Techniques for Honeycomb Cores

Abstract

Honeycomb sandwich structure combines high flexural rigidity and bending strength with low weight. Sandwich structures with honeycomb as core have number of applications for aerospace, automobile and civil engineering structures. Finite element analysis of detailed honeycomb core model is too complex and it takes a lot of computation time. Therefore, the solution is to replace the honeycomb core by an equivalent orthotropic material. The main objective of this research paper is to first define an appropriate equivalent model which provides results as that of the detailed 3D model in order to minimize computation time and to investigate the geometric parameters of honeycomb structure such as the core height, face plate thickness and changing cell angle on the Equivalent model through numerical study. The geometry of cells for the core and core height variation can alter the sandwich panel behavior in a significant manner. A good agreement is found between detailed and equivalent model and in-depth analysis of cell height and face plate thickness and in the honeycomb structures has been carried out and the results show that by both face-sheet and core height has inverse relation with deformation, Moreover the value of orthotropic properties varies exponentially as cell angle changes.