Flatwise compression behavior of composite Nomex® honeycomb sandwich structure

In this paper, the mechanical properties of Nomex® paper coated with resin and composite Nomex® honeycomb sandwich structures (CNHSS) were obtained by tensile tests and flatwise tests respectively. The fundamental mechanical properties of the Nomex® paper were used as input materials parameters of finite element model generated at meso-scale level for the CNHSS, and the mechanical properties of CNHSSs were used to validate the numerical results. Based on the test and numerical results, the theoretical equations were modified to predict the flatwise compressive buckling strength and modulus of the CNHSS. The numerical and theoretical results clearly revealed that the CNHSS had two flatwise compressive elastic moduli. However, the flatwise test can only capture the second flatwise compressive elastic modulus due to manufacturing geometric defects of the cell walls. The numerical and test results showed that the manufacturing geometric defects of the cell walls showed little influence on the ultimate flatwise compressive strength. And the modified equation can predict the flatwise compressive buckling strength and modulus of the CNHSS with sufficient accuracy.

Effect of local stiffeners and warping constraints on the buckling of symmetric open thin-walled beams with high warping stiffness

Local stiffeners affect the behaviour of thin-walled beams (TWBs). An in-house code based on a one-dimensional model proved effective in several instances of compressive buckling of TWBs but gave counterintuitive results for locally stiffened TWBs. To clarify the matter, we investigated TWBs with multi-symmetric double I cross-section, widely used in practical applications where high bending stiffness is required. Several samples were manufactured and stiffened on purpose, closing them over a small portion of the axis at different places. The samples were tested with end constraints accounting for various warping conditions. The experimental and numerical outputs from a commercial FEM code gave a key to overcome the unexpected results by the in-house code, paving the way for further studies.

An Engineering Correction Method for Buckling Load of Dense Stiffened Panels

It is convenient for designers to get the buckling loads of sparse stiffened panels quickly by using engineering calculation method to analyze the stability of composite stiffened panels, but it is still unable to meet the accuracy requirements of analysis of dense stiffened panels. The buckling loads of stiffened panels are closely related to the buckling modes. Based on capturing and analyzing the Compressive Buckling waveforms of T-shaped densely stiffened panels, this paper presents a formula for calculating the buckling loads according to the geometric coefficients. The results are very similar to those of finite element simulation, and can be used to calculate the buckling loads of sparse and dense stiffened panels with different stiffeners.