IMPROVING HONEYCOMB-CORE SANDWICH STRUCTURES FOR IMPACT RESISTANCE

An aluminum honeycomb was filled with a rigid foam to improve its mech anical properties. This foam-filled honeycomb was used to construct sa ndwich panels with graphite/epoxy composite face sheets. The mechanica l properties of the foam-filled honeycomb were found to be superior to the unfilled honeycomb. Low velocity impact test results indicated th at the sandwich panel containing the new core had much improved impact resistance and that the impact-inflicted core crushing was highly loc alized.