FEM Simulation of the Mechanical Behaviour of Sandwich Materials for Aerospace Structures

Sandwich plates and shells are widely used in aerospace structures due to their high stiffness/density ratio and specific strength: usually sandwich materials are employed in constructions which require a very high dimensional stability versus thermo-mechanical space environment interactions, such a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Key engineering materials 2000-09, Vol.221-222, p.209-220
Main Authors: Allegri, G, Lecci, U, Marchetti, M, Poscente, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Sandwich plates and shells are widely used in aerospace structures due to their high stiffness/density ratio and specific strength: usually sandwich materials are employed in constructions which require a very high dimensional stability versus thermo-mechanical space environment interactions, such as satellite antennas. The dimensional stability can be ensured by a proper choice of materials and surface treatments: the integrity of the assembled sandwich must be preserved by avoiding interfacial debonding between the skins and the core, which has been proved to be one of the main damage source for aerospace structures. The skin-core bonding strength of sandwich materials is strongly dependent on the structural adhesive employed, that is on its mechanical properties, which must be optimised by a proper design of the bonding resin curing process. FEM analyses of standard flatwise specimens have been performed by the NASTRAN finite element processor: the results of numerical simulations have been compared with those obtained by experimental tests. Dependence of mechanical properties of the sandwich materials (shear modulus and tensile strength) on the adhesive physical features is investigated and related to the carrying out of the curing process of the skin-core bonding resin.
ISSN:1013-9826