# US 10,369,762 B2 · Impact resistant sandwich structure

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- Number: US 10,369,762 B2
- Document ID: US10369762B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/448,800
- Filed: 2017-03-03
- Published: 2017-09-07
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-04
- Assignees: Airbus Operations S.L.
- Applicants: Airbus Operations, S.L.
- Inventors: Fernando Pereira Mosqueira; Andrea Ivan Marasco; Esteban Martino Gonzalez
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369762B2

## CPC

- B32B 3/12: characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure
- B29D 99/0089: {Producing honeycomb structures (consisting of porous ceramic ware C04B38/0006)}
- B32B 3/02: characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions {(non-uniform thickness B32B3/263)}
- B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)}
- B32B 5/28: impregnated with or embedded in a plastic substance {(not used)}
- B32B 7/03: with respect to the orientation of features (direction of fibres or filaments B32B5/12)
- B32B 15/01: all layers being exclusively metallic {(making layered metal workpieces by pressure cladding B23K20/22; making coatings with a metallic material characterised by its composition C23C30/00)}
- B32B 15/016: {all layers being formed of aluminium or aluminium alloys}
- B32B 15/20: comprising aluminium or copper {(B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence)}
- B32B 27/20: using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- B64C 1/062: {specially adapted to absorb crash loads}
- B64C 1/12: Construction or attachment of skin panels
- B64D 45/00: Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for
- B32B 2250/03: 3 layers
- B32B 2250/05: 5 or more layers
- B32B 2250/40: Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA
- B32B 2307/50: having particular mechanical properties
- B32B 2307/558: Impact strength, toughness
- B32B 2571/00: Protective equipment
- B32B 2605/18: Aircraft
- B64D 2045/0095: {Devices specially adapted to avoid bird strike}
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT

## Abstract

A sandwich structure architecture for high speed impact resistant structure includes sandwich skins which enclose a sandwich core formed by a plurality of spacing layers and a plurality of trigger layers, wherein these layers are stacked alternatively in the core. The walls of the trigger layers are thicker than the walls of the spacing layers and/or the walls of the trigger layers include at least one part inclined with respect to the walls of the spacing layers. The spacing and the trigger layers are made of the same type of material, preferably composite materials or metallic materials. The structure is capable of absorbing high-speed impacts, and at the same time can be used as load carrying structure in aircraft fuselages, wings, vertical or horizontal stabilizers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sandwich structure comprising:
a sandwich core having upper and lower skins, the core comprising a plurality of spacing layers and a plurality of trigger layers, stacked together and alternatively arranged in the core,
wherein the spacing and trigger layers are configured as multi-cell hollow structures having walls, disposed perpendicular to a plane substantially parallel to the upper and lower skins,
wherein the spacing layers and the trigger layers are made of the same material, and wherein the trigger layers' mass per unit of volume is larger than the spacing layers' mass per unit of volume,
wherein the walls of the trigger layers include at least one part inclined with respect to the walls of the spacing layers, and
wherein the at least one inclined part forms an angle (α) with the walls of adjacent spacing layers and extends from an end of the wall of the adjacent spacing layer, and wherein the angle (α) is within the range of 90° to 150°.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sandwich structure according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the trigger layers are thicker than the walls of the spacing layers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sandwich structure according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the trigger and spacing layers have substantially the same thickness.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sandwich structure according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the trigger layers include a rhomboidal shape in a cross-sectional view.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sandwich structure according to claim 1, wherein the spacing layers and trigger layers have respectively constant height, and wherein the spacing layers are higher than the trigger layers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sandwich structure according to claim 1, wherein the cells of the spacing and trigger layers have substantially the same shape in a top plan view of the layers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sandwich structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower skins, spacing and trigger layers are made of a composite material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The sandwich structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower skins, the spacing and trigger layers are metallic.

### Claim 9

A sandwich structure comprising:
a sandwich core having upper and lower skins, the core comprising a plurality of spacing layers and a plurality of trigger layers, stacked together and alternatively arranged in the core,
wherein the spacing and trigger layers are configured as multi-cell hollow structures having walls, disposed perpendicular to a plane substantially parallel to the upper and lower skins,
wherein the spacing layers and the trigger layers are made of the same material,
wherein the trigger layers' mass per unit of volume is larger than the spacing layers' mass per unit of volume, and
wherein the walls of the trigger layer include a T-shaped configuration in a cross-sectional view having segments extending generally perpendicular from the walls of the trigger layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The sandwich structure according to claim 9, wherein the spacing layers and trigger layers have respectively constant height, and wherein the spacing layers are higher than the trigger layers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The sandwich structure according to claim 9, wherein the upper and lower skins, the spacing and trigger layers are metallic.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The sandwich structure according to claim 9, wherein the upper and lower skins, spacing and trigger layers are made of a composite material.