Dynamic crushing strength of hexagonal honeycombs

Based on the repeatable collapsing mechanism of cells' structure under dynamic crushing, an analytical formula of the dynamic crushing strength of regular hexagonal honeycombs is derived in terms of impact velocity and cell walls' thickness ratio. It is consistent with the equation obtained from the shock wave theory that regards cellular material as continuum, in which the key parameter is approximately measured from the "stress-strain" curve of the cellular material. The effect of unequal thickness of cell walls on the honeycomb's dynamic crushing strength is discussed, and the result shows that the dynamic crushing strength of the hexagonal honeycomb with some double-thickness walls is about 1.3 times of that of the hexagonal honeycomb without double-thickness wall. All of the analytical predictions are compared with the numerical simulation results. showing good agreements. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.