Experimental investigation of static and fatigue behaviour of composites honeycomb materials using four point bending tests

In this study static and fatigue behaviours of honeycomb sandwich composites, made of aramide fibres and aluminium cores, are investigated through four-point bending tests. Damage and failure modes are reported and discussed. Global and local parameters were considered to evaluate the fatigue life of the analysed sandwich composites. Effects of core densities and the cell orientation (L or W) on the maximum load and on the damage processes (initiation and evolution) are also investigated. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.