Scarf patch repair of honeycomb sandwich composites and its simulation optimisation

In this work, the influence of repair angle on the bending strength recovery of scarf patch repaired composites with a honeycomb sandwich structure was experimentally and numerically investigated. The repair angle played an important role in the bending strength recovery of the scarf patch repaired composites. The optimum technical parameter of repair angle was found to be 30:1, while the bending strength recovery value could be as high as 99.6%. Besides, the repair simulation model was established based on finite element analysis to predict the failure load of repaired honeycomb sandwich composites with various repair angles. The simulation results agreed well with the experimental data, with a maximum error of 4.99%. The simulation model was further optimised using Kriging model, and the error between the predicted and tested results was only 4.49%. This model could significantly contribute to avoiding repeated experiments, allowing repair angle to be optimised, and maximally recovering the preliminary performance of the composites.

Automated summary

The repair angle significantly influences the bending strength recovery of scarf patch repaired composites, with an optimal repair angle technical parameter of 30:1 achieving up to 99.6% bending strength recovery. The simulation model accurately predicts the failure load of repaired honeycomb sandwich composites with different repair angles, with a maximum error of 4.99% and further optimization reducing the error to 4.49%. This model can effectively reduce the need for repeated experiments, optimize repair angles, and maximize the recovery of composite materials' initial performance.