Shear properties of X-Z-pin reinforced foam core sandwich

A series experiments were carried out to investigate the responses of X-Z-pinned foam core sandwich materials under shear loading, including inclination angles of 15° and 25° with foam core thickness of 12.7mm and 8mm, each group of which had a contrasted one. The experimental results show that the Z-pinned foam core can reinforce the shear modulus and strength of the sandwich markedly. At the same time, the X-Z-pin reinforced material has a special failure pattern which is different from the unreinforced one. On the basis of integrating the space truss frame and equivalent inclusion method, a method for predicting the shear modulus of the composites was established. The theoretical prediction coincides with the experimental data well. In addition, the novel Z-pinned cores are found to exhibit more favorable programmable property than the conventional sandwich cores. Altering the pinned angle and pin materials can ameliorate the mechanical properties of sandwich.