Bonded inserts are commonly used to introduce localized loads into sandwich panels. This article investigates sources of variability in the pull-out strength of metallic inserts in aramid honeycomb sandwich panels. Finite element modeling is used to investigate the sensitivity of core stresses to potting depth in partially potted inserts, which is found to be significant. Experimental specimens showed large variations in potting radii and cell wall dimensions, both critical parameters since the failure mode is predominantly core shear, adjacent to the potting. Foam core specimens were also tested and showed significantly lower variability in pull-out strength compared with honeycomb specimens.
ECSS - European Cooperation for Space Standardization (2004). Space Engineering Insert Design Handbook , ECSS-E-30-06.
2.
Thomsen, O.T. and Rits, W. (1998). Analysis and Design of Sandwich Plates with Inserts- A High Order Sandwich Plate Theory Approach , Composites Part B: Engineering, 29B: 795-807.
3.
Raghu, N. ( 2008). Failure of Inserts in Sandwich Panels, ME Thesis, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
4.
Bozhevolnaya, E., Lyckegaard, A., Thomsen, O.T. and Skvortsov , V. (2003). Local Effects in the Vicinity of Inserts in Sandwich Panels, Composites Part B: Engineering, 35: 619-627.
5.
Zenkert, D. ( 1995). An Introduction to Sandwich Construction, EMAS Ltd, Warley, UK.
