Thermochemical response of honeycomb sandwich panels

A simple study aimed at predicting the thermochemical response of honeycomb sandwich panels is presented. The overall thermal conductivity coefficient for the panel is obtained through a consideration of the convective gas movement within the cell spaces. The earlier correlations of Catton and Edwards are used. The analytical solution for the one-dimensional approximation is quoted from an earlier study. In comparison with three data points obtained at JPL at heat fluxes of 2.5, 5 and 8 W/sq cm, the char penetration depth is well predicted, especially when the debonding of the face sheet is considered. Re-radiation of incident heat flux from the debonded face sheet plays an important role in this model.