Effects Aviation Fluids have on the Flatwise Compressive Strength of Nomex® Honeycomb Core Material

What is it about?

In this paper, I showed how the mechanical properties, especially flatwise compressive strength and compressive modulus, of honeycomb sandwich structures were affected if the structure was saturated by a fluid such as water, fuel, hydraulic fluid, or engine oil. This is significant because composite sandwich structure is often exposed to fluid ingression from skin panel damage. Understanding the change in mechanical properties, when the composite sandwich structure with Nomex® honeycomb core comes in contact with fluids, is essential before it is used as a part structure. This paper also investigated strength recovery of the Nomex® honeycomb sandwich structure when it dried after soaking and the relationship between mechanical strength and moisture content. At last, the paper investigated de-bonding effect caused by fluid ingression.

Featured Image

Photo by T.H. Chia on Unsplash

Photo by T.H. Chia on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Nomex® honeycomb sandwich structure with composite facesheets are one of the most common types of composite structure in aerospace, aviation, marine, automotive and so on. It will help researchers, designers, and manufacturing engineers to understand properties of the structure when it is saturated with a fluid.