Effects of various form of defects on the mechanical
properties of the Honey Comb Structures

Research abstract
Cellular solids, in the form of either honeycomb-like materials with prismatic cells or foams with polyhedral cells, are widely used in engineering applications such as lightweight structural sandwich panels or components designed for absorbing impact energy. They also appear widely in natural materials, such as wood and bone.

In this research we are interested in understanding the effects of various defects such as randomly missing walls in the cell of a honeycomb cell or filled cell on the tensile and compressive strength of the honeycomb structure. The tensile and compressive strength will be evaluated as a function of the defect density. The research could be expanded to bones with various cellular densities to understand the effects of bone density to its mechanical properties. Numerical analyses such as finite element methods will be used to simulate experimental observation.


Research activities/experience

RETs will be involved with various mechanical testing equipment. Some basic knowldege of specimens preparation and data acquistion will be helpful. We expect you be familiar with the Excel. Knowledge of computer and Matlab will be very helpful.nowledge of computer and Matlab will be very helpful.
Expectations


Lab safety/issues unique to this laboratory

Safety Glasses and General safety with electrical components. Also use masking when you are polishing specimens. Be careful with etching acids

Suggested literature to be reviewed by RET/YSP prior to beginning this research assignment

Please read papers regarding cellular materials and their mechanical properties.

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