Method for improving pulloff strength in pin-reinforced sandwich structure
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMichael E. Rorabaugh, Anthony Falcone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Improved pin-reinforced sandwich structure ties the face sheets (typically on opposite sides of a foam core) together with a plurality of Z-pins that extend into each face sheet (through the core). The pins are arranged in a tetrahedral or hat section configuration in 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional arrangements to provide enhanced reinforcement, particularly in shear. We are able to improve the pulloff strength additionally by dimpling the core surrounding the pins to produce adhesive fillets along the pins.
Claims19
A method for increasing the pulloff strength in pin-reinforced sandwich structure, comprising the step of:
- ordering the pins into a tetrahedral or hat section configuration to increase the pulloff strength between facesheets of the structure and a core to which the facesheets are adhered.
A method for increasing the pulloff strength in pin-reinforced sandwich structure, comprising the step of:
- dimpling a core in the sandwich structure adjacent to and surrounding each pin to allow resin in a facesheet adhered to the core to form resin fillets at each dimple in the core, the dimples improving the pulloff strength between the facesheet and the core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.