Experimental investigation of stiffness characteristics of Tee joints of Aluminum Honeycomb core sandwich panels with different edging configurations

Abstract

Requirement of light weight materials in aircraft, naval and other applications has necessitated wide spread use of honey comb sandwich panels because of its high strength to weight ratio, high bending stiffness, fire retardant resistance, insulation properties and sound attenuation properties. Aluminum honeycomb is used as core material for sandwich panels: floors, roofs, doors, partitions, working surfaces for automatic machines and for all products which require high degree of flatness and optimal stiffness-to-weight-ratio. These panels have thickness ranging from 3 to 300 mm with cell sizes ranging from 6 to 25 mm, resulting in core density ranging from 20 to 80 kg/m3. In all these applications, extensive joining is required so that the panels can be fabricated to complex shapes. In this paper, various edging and configuration details that have been investigated to secure Tee joints with adequate soundness through adhesive joining methods are presented. The stiffness characteristics and shear strengths of the joints have been determined experimentally. The configuration of each of the Tee joint is discussed and best combinations of edging and configuration are recommended for successful fabrication of complex assemblies with Aluminum honeycomb core sandwich panels.