Numerical prediction and measurement of effective thermal conductivity of honeycomb sandwich panel

A theoretical model was developed to predict the effective thermal conductivities of honeycomb sandwich panel based on the work of others, and the results of an example show that the theoretical values agreed well with those practical ones. To measure the effective thermal conductivities, an experimental apparatus was designed and built, and a sample made of aluminum was measured under steady-state. The standard deviation between measured and predicted was within 7% when the average temperature was higher than 150°C. The analysis and experimental methods given in this paper can be used to evaluate the thermal performance of honeycomb sandwich structures.