Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

In-plane and out-of-plane compressive mechanical properties of Nomex honeycombs and their prediction

  • Technical Paper
  • Published:
Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on experiments used to evaluate the in-plane and out-of-plane mechanical properties of Nomex honeycomb, the influences of different cell geometries and honeycomb densities on the mechanical properties of honeycombs were investigated. The content of each component of honeycomb was analysed by disassembly. Furthermore, by introducing the wall thickness ratio and a correction function, a theoretical prediction model of out-of-plane mechanical properties was constructed. As for the prediction of in-plane mechanical properties, a three-layer structural finite element model of the cell walls was established through the use of a user-defined integration method.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

d :

Cell size of Nomex honeycomb

\( t_{\text{s}} \), \( t_{\text{d}} \) :

Thickness of single and double cell walls

h :

Side length of the double cell wall

l :

Side length of the single cell wall

θ :

Cell wall angle of Nomex honeycomb

\( \sigma \), \( \varepsilon \) :

Compressive stress and strain of Nomex honeycomb

\( \sigma_{\text{c}} \), \( \varepsilon_{\text{c}} \) :

Collapse stress and strain of Nomex honeycomb

\( \sigma_{\text{p}} \) :

Plateau stress of Nomex honeycomb

\( \sigma_{\text{ci}} \), \( \sigma_{\text{pi}} \) :

Initial theoretical value of collapse stress and plateau stress

\( \sigma_{\text{cc}} \), \( \sigma_{\text{pc}} \) :

Corrected theoretical value of collapse stress and plateau stress

\( E_{\text{a}} \), \( E_{\text{m}} \) :

Energy absorption and specific energy absorption of Nomex honeycomb

\( \mu \) :

Residual rate of Nomex honeycomb

\( \rho_{\text{n}} \), \( S_{\text{n}} \) :

Equivalent density and cell area of Nomex honeycomb

\( \rho_{\text{a}}^{*} \), \( \rho_{\text{p}}^{*} \) :

Equivalent density of Nomex paper (without resin coating) and resin honeycomb

\( \rho_{\text{a}} \), \( \rho_{\text{p}} \) :

Density of Nomex paper (without resin coating) and resin

\( S_{\text{a}}^{*} \), \( S_{\text{p}}^{*} \) :

Cell area of Nomex paper (without resin coating) and resin honeycomb

\( S_{\text{a}} \), \( S_{\text{p}} \) :

Cell wall area of Nomex paper (without resin coating) and resin honeycomb

\( t_{\text{a}} \), \( t_{\text{p}} \) :

Wall thickness of Nomex paper (without resin coating) and resin honeycomb

p :

Wall thickness ratio

\( P_{\text{cs}} \), \( P_{\text{cd}} \) :

Collapse load of the single and double cell walls

\( E_{\text{s}} \) :

Young’s modulus of cell wall material

K :

End constraint factor

H :

Sample height

\( m \), \( n \) :

Half wave numbers in axial direction and transverse direction

C(x), G(x):

Correction function

\( Q_{1} \), \( Q_{2} \), \( Q_{3} \) :

Mechanisms of plastic deformation

\( M_{\text{s}} \), \( M_{\text{d}} \) :

Fully plastic bending moment of the single and double cell wall

\( 2\delta \) :

Wavelength of the folding mode

r :

Small radius of the toroidal shell

\( \sigma_{\text{ys}} \) :

Yield strength of honeycomb wall

\( P_{\text{m}} \) :

Plateau force

References

  1. Smahat A, Mankour A, Slimane S, Roubache R, Bendine K, Guelailia A (2020) Numerical investigation of debris impact on spacecraft structure at hyper-high velocity. J Braz Soc Mech Sci Eng 42(3):117

    Google Scholar 

  2. Tahani M, Safarian S (2018) Determination of rigidities, stiffness coefficients and elastic constants of multi-layer graphene sheets by an asymptotic homogenization method. J Braz Soc Mech Sci Eng 41(1):3

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ashby MF, Gibson LJ (1997) Cellular solids: structure and properties. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  4. Wang Z, Lu Z, Tian H, Yao S, Zhou W (2016) Theoretical assessment methodology on axial compressed hexagonal honeycomb’s energy absorption capability. Mech Adv Mater Struct 23(5):503–512

    Google Scholar 

  5. Zhang D, Fei Q, Zhang P (2017) In-plane dynamic crushing behavior and energy absorption of honeycombs with a novel type of multi-cells. Thin Walled Struct 117:199–210

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ugur L, Duzcukoglu H, Sahin OS, Akkus H (2020) Investigation of impact force on aluminium honeycomb structures by finite element analysis. J Sandwich Struct Mater 22(1):87–103

    Google Scholar 

  7. Xu P, Xing J, Yao S, Yang C, Chen K, Li B (2017) Energy distribution analysis and multi-objective optimization of a gradual energy-absorbing structure for subway vehicles. Thin Walled Struct 115:255–263

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fazilati J, Alisadeghi M (2016) Multiobjective crashworthiness optimization of multi-layer honeycomb energy absorber panels under axial impact. Thin Walled Struct 107:197–206

    Google Scholar 

  9. Li X, Zhang P, Shiqiang L, Wang Z, Wu G (2018) Dynamic response of aluminum honeycomb sandwich panels under foam projectile impact. Mech Adv Mater Struct 25(8):637–646

    Google Scholar 

  10. Galehdari SA, Kadkhodayan M (2019) Collapse of honeycomb cell as a result of buckling or plastic hinges, analytical, numerical and experimental study. J Braz Soc Mech Sci Eng 41(3):154

    Google Scholar 

  11. Singh AK, Davidson BD, Hasseldine BPJ, Zehnder AT (2015) Damage resistance of aluminum core honeycomb sandwich panels with carbon/epoxy face sheets. J Compos Mater 49(23):2859–2876

    Google Scholar 

  12. Balawi S, Abot JL (2008) The effect of honeycomb relative density on its effective in-plane elastic moduli: an experimental study. Compos Struct 84(4):293–299

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hussein RD, Ruan D, Lu G, Guillow S, Yoon JW (2017) Crushing response of square aluminium tubes filled with polyurethane foam and aluminium honeycomb. Thin Walled Struct 110:140–154

    Google Scholar 

  14. Che Q, Yao S, Xu P, Qu Q, Xiao X (2018) The impact performance of honeycomb-filled structures under eccentric loading for subway vehicles. Thin Walled Struct 123:360–370

    Google Scholar 

  15. Tao Y, Duan S, Wen W, Pei Y, Fang D (2017) Enhanced out-of-plane crushing strength and energy absorption of in-plane graded honeycombs. Compos B Eng 118:33–40

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jaśkowiec J, Pluciński P, Stankiewicz A, Cichoń C (2017) Three-dimensional modelling of laminated glass bending on two-dimensional in-plane mesh. Compos B Eng 120:63–82

    Google Scholar 

  17. Balawi S, Abot JL (2008) A refined model for the effective in-plane elastic moduli of hexagonal honeycombs. Compos Struct 84(2):147–158

    Google Scholar 

  18. Chen D, Horii H, Ozaki S (2009) Analysis of in-plane elastic modulus for a hexagonal honeycomb core: analysis of Young’s modulus and shear modulus. J Comput Sci Technol 3(1):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  19. Roy R, Nguyen KH, Park YB, Kweon JH, Choi JH (2014) Testing and modeling of Nomex™ honeycomb sandwich Panels with bolt insert. Compos B Eng 56:762–769

    Google Scholar 

  20. Park Y, Kweon J, Choi J (2014) Failure characteristics of carbon/BMI-Nomex sandwich joints in various hygrothermal conditions. Compos B Eng 60:213–221

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zang S, Zhou X, Wang H, You Z (2016) Foldcores made of thermoplastic materials: experimental study and finite element analysis. Thin Walled Struct 100:170–179

    Google Scholar 

  22. Yang M, Cao K, Yeom B, Thouless MD, Waas A, Arruda EM, Kotov NA (2015) Aramid nanofiber-reinforced transparent nanocomposites. J Compos Mater 49(15):1873–1879

    Google Scholar 

  23. Pydah A, Batra RC (2017) Crush dynamics and transient deformations of elastic-plastic Miura-ori core sandwich plates. Thin Walled Struct 115:311–322

    Google Scholar 

  24. Heimbs S (2009) Virtual testing of sandwich core structures using dynamic finite element simulations. Comput Mater Sci 45(2):205–216

    Google Scholar 

  25. Xie S, Yang S, Yang C, Wang D (2020) Sound absorption performance of a filled honeycomb composite structure. Appl Acoust 162:107202

    Google Scholar 

  26. Karakoç A, Freund J (2012) Experimental studies on mechanical properties of cellular structures using Nomex® honeycomb cores. Compos Struct 94(6):2017–2024

    Google Scholar 

  27. Karakoç A, Santaoja K, Freund J (2013) Simulation experiments on the effective in-plane compliance of the honeycomb materials. Compos Struct 96:312–320

    Google Scholar 

  28. Liu L, Wang H, Guan Z (2015) Experimental and numerical study on the mechanical response of Nomex honeycomb core under transverse loading. Compos Struct 121:304–314

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang Y, Liu T, Tizani W (2018) Experimental and numerical analysis of dynamic compressive response of Nomex honeycombs. Compos B Eng 148:27–39

    Google Scholar 

  30. Zhang X, Xu F, Zang Y, Feng W (2020) Experimental and numerical investigation on damage behavior of honeycomb sandwich panel subjected to low-velocity impact. Compos Struct 236:111882

    Google Scholar 

  31. Zhou Y, Wang Q, Guo Y, Xu Y, Yi X, Jia Y (2018) Effect of phenolic resin thickness on frequency-dependent dynamic mechanical properties of Nomex honeycomb cores. Compos B Eng 154:285–291

    Google Scholar 

  32. Rodriguez-Ramirez JDD, Castanie B, Bouvet C (2018) Experimental and numerical analysis of the shear nonlinear behaviour of Nomex honeycomb core: application to insert sizing. Compos Struct 193:121–139

    Google Scholar 

  33. Seemann R, Krause D (2018) Numerical modelling of partially potted inserts in honeycomb sandwich panels under pull-out loading. Compos Struct 203:101–109

    Google Scholar 

  34. Qiu K, Wang Z, Zhang W (2016) The effective elastic properties of flexible hexagonal honeycomb cores with consideration for geometric nonlinearity. Aerosp Sci Technol 58:258–266

    Google Scholar 

  35. Seemann R, Krause D (2017) Numerical modelling of Nomex honeycomb sandwich cores at meso-scale level. Compos Struct 159:702–718

    Google Scholar 

  36. Roy R, Park S, Kweon J, Choi J (2014) Characterization of Nomex honeycomb core constituent material mechanical properties. Compos Struct 117:255–266

    Google Scholar 

  37. Zuhri MYM, Guan ZW, Cantwell WJ (2014) The mechanical properties of natural fibre based honeycomb core materials. Compos B Eng 58:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  38. ASTM C365/C365M-16 (2016) Standard test method for flatwise compressive properties of sandwich cores. ASTM International, West Conshohocken (PA)

  39. Wilbert A, Jang WY, Kyriakides S, Floccari JF (2011) Buckling and progressive crushing of laterally loaded honeycomb. Int J Solids Struct 48(5):803–816

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  40. Zhang J, Ashby MF (1992) The out-of-plane properties of honeycombs. Int J Mech Sci 34(6):475–489

    Google Scholar 

  41. Tiomshenko SP, Gere JM (2009) Theory of elastic stability. Dover Publications, Mineola

    Google Scholar 

  42. Xiao B, Robertson T, Huang X, Kearsey R (2020) Fracture performance and crack growth prediction of SPS TBCs in isothermal experiments by crack numbering density. Ceram Int 46(3):2682–2692

    Google Scholar 

  43. Tan X, Zhu S, Wang B, Yao K, Chen S, Xu P, Wang L, Sun Y (2020) Mechanical response of negative stiffness truncated-conical shell systems: experiment, numerical simulation and empirical model. Compos B Eng 188:107898

    Google Scholar 

  44. Wierzbicki T (1983) Crushing analysis of metal honeycombs. Int J Impact Eng 1(2):157–174

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was undertaken at Key Laboratory of Traffic Safety on Track (Central South University), Ministry of Education, China. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51775558). This paper also supported by Innovation-Driven Program of the Central South University (No. 2018CX023), the Nature Science Foundation for Excellent Youth Scholars of Hunan Province (Grant No. 2019JJ30034) and the Shenghua Yu-ying Talents Program of the Central South University (Principle Investigator: Pro. Suchao Xie).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Traffic Safety on Track, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410075, China

    Suchao Xie, Zhejun Feng, Hui Zhou, Da Wang & Wen Ma

  2. Joint International Research Laboratory of Key Technology for Rail Traffic Safety, Central South University, Changsha, 410075, China

    Suchao Xie, Zhejun Feng, Hui Zhou, Da Wang & Wen Ma

  3. School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410075, China

    Suchao Xie, Zhejun Feng, Da Wang & Wen Ma

Authors
  1. Suchao Xie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhejun Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hui Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Da Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wen Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suchao Xie.

Additional information

Technical Editor: João Marciano Laredo dos Reis.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xie, S., Feng, Z., Zhou, H. et al. In-plane and out-of-plane compressive mechanical properties of Nomex honeycombs and their prediction. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 42, 460 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-020-02550-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-020-02550-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation