Karafan Journal

Karafan Journal

Analysis of composite double-curved sandwich panel joints of meteorological radar radome under compression load

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Alireza Abidi 1
Majid Mokhtari 2
Mehdi Hosseini-Farrash 3
1 MS Graduated, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran.
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran.
3 Assistant professor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran.
10.48301/kssa.2025.500045.3123
Abstract
Joints are one of the most important components of engineering structures. Bolted connections are a common type of connection used in sandwich and laminate structures. As with other joint designs, these connections should be designed so that damage does not occur at the connection area. Joints used in telecommunications structures should be non-metallic or contain the least amount of metal possible so as not to obstruct the passage of waves or cause unwanted radiation. Sandwich composites are used for telecommunications covers (radomes), which must be transparent to electromagnetic waves. The double-curved sandwich components that form the radome dome are connected at connection points as an integrated laminate with bolts. This paper presents the results of an experimental and numerical study of the compressive strength and buckling evaluation of double-curved sandwich panels connected with bolts. The results are used to evaluate the joints' strength against in-plane compressive loads caused by wind.
Keywords
Radome
Mechanical joints
Sandwich panel
Buckling
Composites
Subjects
[1]  Wang, X., Pont-Lezica, I., Harris, J. M., Guild, F. J., & Pavier, M. J., Compressive failure of composite laminates containing multiple delaminations. Composites Science and Technology, 2005. 65(2): 191-200. DOI:10.1016/j.compscitech.2004.06.010
[2]    Aslan, Z. and M. Şahin, “Buckling behavior and compressive failure of composite laminates containing multiple large delaminations”. Composite Structures, 2009. 89(3):382-390. DOI:10.1016/j.compstruct.2008.08.011
[3]    Truxel, A., Grenestedt, J. L., & Caccese, V. (2009). Doubly Curved Composite Sandwich Panels for Hybrid Composite/Metal Ship Structures (No. C2004015RPT05). Defense Technical Information Center. https://search.worldcat.org/title/495783505
[4]    Gao, Y. and M.S.H. Fatt, Local facesheet pulse buckling in a curved, composite sandwich panel. Composite Structures, 2013. 104: 249-260. DOI:10.1016/j. compstruct. 2013.04.037
[5]    Liu, J., Qiao, W., Liu, J., Xie, D., Zhou, Z., Ma, L., & Wu, L., The compressive responses of glass fiber composite pyramidal truss cores sandwich panel at different temperatures. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2015. 73: 93-100. DOI:10.1016/j.compositesa.2015.03.004
[6]    Dehabadi, A.M., G.H. Rahimi, and R. Rahmani, Experimental investigation on core shape effect on compressive properties of sandwich structures with composite skins, corrugated composite core and foam. Modares Mechanical Engineering, 2015. 15(4). DOI:  20.1001.1.10275940.1394.15.4.14.6
[7]    Khorramabadi, R., Besharat Ferdosi, S., (2023). “Post-buckling and vibration analysis of double-curved sandwich panels with SMA embedded faces”, Composites Part C, 12. DOI:10.1016/j.jcomc.2023.100419
[8]    Szekrényes, A. (2021). “Mechanics of shear and normal deformable doubly-curved delaminated sandwich shells with soft core”. Composite Structures, 258. DOI:10.1016/j.compstruct.2020.113196
[9]    Karthikeyan, R., R. Sridhar, and S.G. Kumar, Hardness and buckling strength of different material panels for a wing box structure with FE analysis. Materials Today: Proceedings, 2020. 33: 4509-4514. DOI:10.1016/j.matpr.2020.08.003
[10]    Asjodi, P., Hosseini Farrash, M. “Experimental investigation of vibration and buckling behavior of sandwich panels reinforced with nanoparticles”. Master's thesis in aerospace engineering, https://shahroodut.ac.ir/fa/sec/index.php?id=23. (2020).
[11]    Mokhtari, M., Nazari, F., Taherkhani, M., Aliakbarian, H., & Radiom, S., Design and measurement of the first Iranian sandwich Radome panel for C–band weather radar application. Journal of Science and Technology of Composites, 2019. 6(2): 234-241. DOI:10.22068/jstc.2018.79074.1412
[12]    Bahmani Nejad, M., Eskandari-Jam, J., Mokhtari, M. and Mirzaei, A. ”Design and fabrication of double-curved joints of weather radar radome sandwich panels under bending load”, Master's thesis in aerospace engineering, Malek-Ashtar University, (2019).
 
Karafan Journal
Volume 23, Issue 1
Technical and Engineering
Spring 2026
Pages 77-95

  • Receive Date 17 February 2025
  • Revise Date 19 May 2025
  • Accept Date 27 October 2025