In-plane biaxial crush response of polycarbonate honeycombs

The crushing response of a polycarbonate circular cell honeycomb to inplane biaxial loading under displacement control is analyzed. The study involves a combination of experiment and numerical simulation. Experiments corresponding to several different biaxial loading conditions are carried out. In the first phase of the response, the material deforms in a uniform fashion. Next, a nonlinear phase caused by the progressive localization of deformation is characterized by the variation of overall (macroscopic) stiffness. The progressive localization causes the walls of each cell to contact. These periodic honeycomb materials show different collapsed modes under different biaxial loading histories. Experimental measurements indicate how the magnitude of the collapse load varies and how the load-displacement response changes as a function of load biaxiality. The experimental results are simulated through numerical analysis using the finite-element method.