Test MethodOn the determination of out-of-plane elastic properties of honeycomb sandwich panels

Out-of-plane shear modulus of the honeycomb core of a sandwich panel and the Young's modulus in the thickness direction were determined by experimental methods, an analytical approach and by the finite element method. As regards experimental methods, static and dynamic test were carried out. For static tests, three-point bending was used for obtaining shear properties according to a methodology proposed recently. For obtaining Young's modulus, compression tests were carried out. The dynamic test method was based on vibration measurements. Shear modulus was determined in the two principal directions of orthotropy of the honeycomb and results obtained by different ways have been compared. The agreement between shear modulus obtained by both experimental methods is good.