Novel Analytical Methods for Sandwich Core Termination Features

The proposed project will develop a structural analysis framework incorporating high performance composite design methodologies to predict the reliability of sandwich termination features. The sandwich core termination region offers many challenges to properly design and verify its structural integrity. Complexities such as numerous interacting failure modes and sensitivity to manufacturing variations make designing and analyzing the core termination region costly and time consuming. The work proposed by VEXTEC under this SBIR project will produce a composite damage propagation prediction tool. It will explicitly link state-of-the-art laminate design techniques with the mechanistic failure models. Phase I will focus on delamination as the most significant damage mode and the mechanism will be modeled using a virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). During the Phase I Option, the global local analysis will be combined with probabilistic methods to allow for consideration of manufacturing variability throughout the structure. Phase I will show proof that structural analysis and design methodologies for bond integrity between the face sheet and the core of composite sandwich structures is readily achievable.