EFFECT OF CURING PROCESS ON MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF HONEYCOMB-CORE SANDWICH PLATES

The effect of the curing process on certain mechanical properties of a honeycomb-core sandwich plate is studied by testing samples cut from various standard boards. Each standard board has a different combinati on of curing processes, different thickness of face sheets, and differ ent scales of honeycomb-core. The mechanical properties studied are th e flexural strength, transverse shear strength, and plane shear streng th. The materials used in the sandwich plate for the face sheets and h oneycomb core are graphite/epoxy prepreg and aramid, respectively. A c orrelation between the mechanical properties and curing variables is f ound: the flexural strength is affected by the temperature, pressure l evel and heating rate, whereas the shear strength is not affected by a ny of the curing variables.