Face/Core Debond Buckling and Growth

The face/core debond is justifiably considered to be a weak link in the use of sandwich structures. This is because such debonds tend to grow and eventually completely delaminate the face sheet. The most common cause of these defects is poor or missing bonding due to careless manufacturing or a mismatch in the geometry. Similar defects may also arise during service due to thermo-mechanical loads, impact events, or structural fatigue. Debonds or delaminations are susceptible to the phenomenon of “delamination buckling” which occurs when local compressive loading is introduced at the debond site.