Quasi-static and dynamic experiments of aluminum honeycombs under combined compression-shear loading

• A specially designed fixture which eliminates transverse loading on the machines was employed.
• Unlike previous studies, the present tests covered the intermediate velocity range of 0.5–5 ms− 1.
• A pronounced softening in load at a loading angle of 45° was reported for the first time.
• An empirical formula for plateau stress was proposed which shows the effect of loading angle.

In this paper, aluminum hexagonal honeycombs are experimentally studied for their mechanical behavior under combined compression-shear loads. Quasi-static and dynamic tests were conducted at five different loading velocities ranging from 5 × 10− 5 ms− 1 to 5 ms− 1 using MTS and INSTRON machines, among which tests at 0.5 ms− 1 and 5 ms− 1 were conducted for the first time. Specially designed fixtures were employed to apply combined compression-shear loads to honeycombs at angles of 15°, 30° and 45° respectively. Three types of HEXCELL® 5052-H39 aluminum honeycombs with different cell sizes and wall thicknesses were crushed in two different plane orientations (TL and TW). The deformation, crushing force, plateau stress and energy absorption of aluminum honeycombs are presented. The effects of loading plane, loading angle and loading velocity are discussed. An empirical formula is proposed to describe the relationship between plateau stress and loading angle.

Three types of honeycomb subjected to combined compression-shear load at different loading angles at 5 × 10− 4 ms− 1Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide