TRUSS GRID REINFORCED SANDWICH PANELS
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| Co-cured "Melded" Truss Grid Beam (no secondary bonds, no adhesive) Acknowledgements: Siriwann Sao, Haydn Law, Tim Corbett |
Truss grid reinforced sandwich panels in complex shapes can be manufactured using the Quickstep™ Melding Process without adhesives and with the benefits of having no secondary bonds. This produces a sandwich structure that is expected to approach the mechanical performance of a honeycomb panel with much higher shear strength and toughness. It is likely this sandwich design will avoid any water ingress related problems. Truss grid structures have already been demonstrated utilising the Quickstep™ Melding Process.
Step 1
Form 2 partially cured skins. This involves a rapid heat up, a suitably short dwell, and a rapid cool down.
Step 2
Form the inner truss grid. This is achieved by fully curing/partially curing alternating strips. The cured sections become the 'uprights', the uncured regions are the bonded sections.
Step 3
Bladders are laid onto the partially cured bottom skin. The bottom skin lies on a caul plate.
Step 4
The inner truss grid panel is then folded over the bladders, into its final shape.
Step 5
Bladders are laid onto the inner truss grid panel. The top partially cured skin panel is laid down. A caul plate is placed on the top skin. The entire panel is fully cured.
Step 6
Removal of the bladders and caul plates leaves the final product.
