An experimental investigation of static and fatigue behaviour of sandwich composite panels joined by fasteners

An experimental investigation has been carried out to estimate the static and fatigue behaviour of specimens made up of steel plates and sandwich composite panels joined together by either blind or mechanical lock fasteners. A preliminary study was carried out in order to analyse the drilling operation of sandwich panels to determine the best values of parameters to use for fastener installation. A first set of pull-out and shear static tests was performed in 1992, using sandwich panels composed of a nomex honeycomb core between two laminates of glass/graphite/kevlar fibres in epoxy matrix. The investigation was completed in 1998. It consisted of performing a set of pull-out and shear fatigue tests on joints with blind fasteners, and of performing a new set of static tests on identical specimens with the same loading conditions as in 1992 so as to evaluate the possible ageing effect on mechanical proprieties of sandwich panels tested. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.