Manufacture of Arbitrary Cross-Section Composite Honeycomb Cores Based on Origami Techniques

Abstract

As observed in the design of antenna reflectors and rocket bodies, both flat and 3D-shaped honeycomb cores are used in the field of aerospace engineering. This study illustrates a new strategy to fabricate arbitrary cross-section honeycombs with applications of advanced composite materials by using the concept of the kirigami honeycomb, which is made from single flat sheets and has periodical slits resembling origami. The authors also describe a method of applying this technique to advanced composite materials. Applying the partially soft composite techniques, 3D shaped composite honeycombs are manufactured, and some typical samples are shown with their folding line diagrams.