Failure study of honeycomb sandwich structure with embedded part under axial pullout loading

The deformation and failure behavior of a regular hexagonal honeycomb sandwich structure with an embedded part under axial pullout loading are studied. The deformation process of the honeycomb sandwich structure was recorded using a noncontact full-field optical measurement method based on three-dimensional digital image correlation. A corresponding finite element numerical model of the honeycomb sandwich structure with embedded parts is established. A cohesive zone model is used to simulate the interface failure of the honeycomb sandwich structure with the embedded part. The four groups of interface parameters were characterized by standard testing procedures including the flatwise tensile test, single-lap test, double cantilever beam test and three-point bending test. The numerical results accurately predicted the ultimate load of the structure. The failure process and failure mechanism of the honeycomb sandwich structure with the embedded part are obtained. The combination of an experiment and numerical methods effectively revealed the deformation and failure behavior of honeycomb sandwich structures with an embedded part under axial pullout loading. •Four groups of interface parameters were characterized by the FT test, SL test, DCB test and TPB test.•Through the axial pull-out experiment, the full-field strain field was acquired by using digital image correlation.•A FE model was established to study the failure mode of the EHSS under axial pullout loading.•The simulation verifies that the interface debonding and the skin damage are primary influences on the stiffness decrease.