11/8/2014

Smart questions
Smart answers
Smart people

How do I design honeycomb sandwich panels? - Composite engineering - Eng-Tips

Go

Find A Forum

Go

Join Eng-Tips Forums

Home > Forums > Materials Engineers > Materials > Composite engineering Forum

How do I design honeycomb sandwich panels?

thread327-72052
Share This

rd400guy (Materials) (OP)

22
Sep
03
0:19

I'm looking for any information regarding the design parameters for honeycomb (most likely aluminum) sandwich panels. I've been on Hexcel's site, and have requested
information, but was thinking I might be able to get a head start here.
I need to know specifics about how to determine design parameters, i.e. what cell size to use, what thickness of honeycomb, what type of skins to choose, etc. If anyone
knows of any books out there that specifically deal with this, I would greatly appreciate it. Actually, ANY information on design of composite structures using
honeycombs would help. Thanks in advance.

Foreman (Aerospace)

29
Sep
03
0:15

It has been a week since your original post, but I will reply anyway. All of my experience is in the space industry, but I'm sure other industries use similar type of
honeycomb.
An excellent source for sizing honeycomb is Aircraft Design and Analysis by Bruhn. There is a whole chapter in there, with lots of examples on how to do analysis on
honeycomb. Also, I would go to the Hexcel website to get the material properties.
http://www.hexcelcomposites.com/markets/...
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=72052

1/2

11/8/2014

How do I design honeycomb sandwich panels? - Composite engineering - Eng-Tips

In the space industry a good starting place, if you are sizing honeycomb, is 3/16in cell size, 5056AL, 4.4 lb/cu.ft , .75in core with .020in aluminum facesheets. What
makes honeycomb so great is the fact that it can be customized in localized locations. If you're bolted into it, it may be advantagous to get denser core with thicker
facesheets in the area around the bolt. This can make for significant weight savings.
hope this helps

RPstress (Aerospace)

1 Oct
03
14:49

For simple design (sizing) of panels, Hexcel's old TSB 124 was very good. Their modern equivalent seems to be AGU 075b, "HexWeb Honeycomb Sandwich Design
Technology", which can be found in PDF form at http://www.hexcelcomposites.com/Markets/...
(Just slightly different from Foreman's above link.)
It's also necessary for design to download their LTU 018, "Sandwich Panel Fabrication Technology" PDF, which tells you how to do basic things like join panels together,
etc.

Top MBA College

Excel in PG Management Education Research & Practice. Enquire Now !

Join | Indeed Jobs | Advertise

Copy right 1998-2014 ENGINEERING.com, Inc. A ll rights reserv ed.
Unauthorized reproduction or link ing forbidden without expressed written permission.

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=72052

2/2