Sandwich Panel Edgewise Compression Test Fixture (ASTM C364)

Model No. WTF-EC (Stainless Steel)

IMG_3189

Fig. 1:  Sandwich Panel Edgewise Compression Test Fixture with specimen installed.

A fixture, with specimen installed, is shown in Fig. 1.  The sandwich panel is lightly clamped into the test fixture at both ends and subjected to a compressive force parallel to the plane of the panel.  The force is introduced primarily at the ends of the face sheets, with some force being transmitted into the face sheets by friction in the end clamps.  Strength is defined as the applied force divided by the total cross-sectional area of the two face sheets.  Acceptable failure modes are those occurring away from the clamped ends.  A typical failure is wrinkling or dimpling of the face sheets.

A typical test specimen length is on the order of eight times the sandwich thickness, with the width being less than the length, but greater than 2 in.

The test fixture is shown without a specimen in Fig. 2.  The dual screws in each half of the fixture permit centering the specimen within the fixture as well as providing clamping force as they move the sliding clamping blocks inward.

IMG_3181

  Fig. 2:  Sandwich Panel Edgewise Compression Test Fixture, disassembled.

Source of Additional Information:

1)  ASTM C364-07 (reapproved in 2012), "Standard Test Method for Edgewise Compressive Strength of Sandwich Constructions," American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania (first issued in 1955).