This paper reports on the production and evaluation of a new class of “Z-axis” composite sandwich panel where the core consists of a dense array of vertically-aligned, 3 mm long E-glass fibre composite “beams”. The E-glass fibre bundles were aligned using electrostatic charging. A procedure was developed to retain the orientation of the short-fibre bundles whilst they were impregnated and cured with an epoxy/amine resin system. The skins were manufactured from 4-ply carbon/epoxy prepregs with a layup sequence of (0,90)_s. The out-of-plane compressive strength of these Z-axis composites was found to be 25.2 and 15.2 times greater than equivalent sandwich panels made with Nomex® and aluminium honeycomb cores respectively. Their compressive strength was found to increase in proportion to the density of the core. Buckling and fracture of the vertically-aligned Z-axis composite were the predominant failure modes observed. The shear and flexural properties of the Z-axis composites were comparable to equivalent honeycomb sandwich panels manufactured from Nomex® and aluminium honeycomb cores.

本文报告了新型“ Z轴”复合夹芯板的生产和评估情况，该夹芯板由密集排列的垂直排列的3毫米长的E玻璃纤维复合“梁”组成。使用静电电荷将E玻璃纤维束对齐。开发了一种程序来保留短纤维束的方向，同时将短纤维束浸渍并用环氧/胺树脂体系固化。表皮由4层碳/环氧预浸料制成，铺层顺序为（0,90）_s。发现这些Z轴复合材料的面外抗压强度分别是用Nomex®和铝蜂窝芯制成的等效夹芯板的25.2和15.2倍。发现它们的抗压强度与芯的密度成比例地增加。垂直排列的Z轴复合材料的屈曲和断裂是观察到的主要破坏模式。Z轴复合材料的剪切和弯曲性能与用Nomex®和铝蜂窝芯制造的等效蜂窝夹芯板相当。