Effects of solid distribution on the elastic buckling of honeycombs

The elastic buckling strengths of honeycombs depend on their relative density, cell geometry and the elastic modulus of solid cell edges. In this study, we consider the effect of the distribution of solid between three cell edges and a vertex on elastic buckling using a semi-analytical integral-equation approach. At first, the geometry of three cell edges connected at a vertex with Plateau borders is analyzed and then employed to represent a repeating element for regular hexagonal honeycombs. The bending moments, rotational angle and the stiffness of a rotational spring corresponding to the constraint from inclined adjacent cell edges are derived for the vertical cell edge within the repeating element. Consequently, the elastic buckling strength of regular hexagonal honeycombs can be numerically obtained. Moreover, the effects of the distribution of the solid on the elastic buckling strengths of regular hexagonal honeycombs are presented and evaluated. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.