End Grain Balsa as a Sandwich Core Material: A Study of the Properties of Wood Cored Panels used in the Construction of Aircraft

The use in aircraft construction of sandwich panels with balsa wood cores gives a saving in weight with very high tensile and compressive strength, which is maintained over a wide range of temperatures and is uniform in all planar directions. The core is stable under changing temperature conditions, and absorbs little moisture through its exposed faces. Panels made with it can be produced in flat sheets and with single or double curvature, are very stiff, and have a smooth aerodynamic surface. They em be fixed by almost any of the conventional methods.