Investigation on Compression Behavior of 3D Printed Core Material Used for Aerospace Applications

Abstract

Employing continuous carbon fiber 3D printing for sandwich structure fabrication presents an innovative solution to streamline production and enhance design flexibility in aircraft component manufacturing. By integrating the core structure directly into the printing process, the need for intricate bonding procedures is circumvented, potentially reducing both costs and production time. The study's findings underscore the pivotal role of core shape in determining the mechanical properties of the sandwich structures. Overall, leveraging continuous carbon fiber 3D printing holds promise for optimizing structural performance in aerospace components. This approach enables the flexible design of core shapes and the seamless integration of high-performance materials, contributing to the development of lighter, stronger, and more cost-effective aerospace structures in the future.

The compression studies were carried out with and without fillet and its role was investigated. The combined effective mean compression strength was found and the results were compared with the literature. The tests were conducted as per ASTM standards and the results were averaged. The specimen size was fixed at 60x60 mm² with varying height of 15, 20 and 25mm to review the effect of thickness on the compressive strength of 3D printed core material. The specific energy absorption SEA was computed and compared for the specimen of square and cylindrical type. The influence of nozzle diameter, thickness, core pattern are compared and its effects are studied in detail. It was found that core with fillets provided better compressive strength as compared to those without fillets. Further, the thickness played a significant role in compressive strength.