Investigation of impact force on aluminium honeycomb structures by finite element analysis

Abstract

In this study, the behaviour of aluminium honeycomb structures under low-speed impact has been investigated by experimental and finite element analysis method. The production of aluminium honeycomb composite structures was carried out using different adhesives of different widths and heights. The low-velocity impact experiments of the honeycomb structures produced were performed according to ASTM D7766 standard. As a result of the experiment, the force values which caused damage to the structure were measured according to the time, and the maximum force values were taken. Findings have shown that the decrease in cell width, the increase in cell height, and depletion of multiwall carbon nanotubes increase the maximum impact force values in honeycomb composite structures. It is seen that the results obtained by the finite element method and the experimental results are approximately 85% in agreement. There was no statistically significant difference between the results as a result of conducted t-test. © 2017, The Author(s) 2017.