ASTM C273/C273M-06 - 1.10.2006
 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the determination of shear properties of sandwich construction core materials associated with shear distortion of planes parallel to the facings. It covers the determination of shear strength parallel to the plane of the sandwich, and the shear modulus associated with strains in a plane normal to the facings. The test may be conducted on core materials bonded directly to the loading plates or the sandwich facings bonded to the plates. Permissible core material forms include those with continuous bonding surfaces (such as balsa wood and foams) as well as those with discontinuous bonding surfaces (such as honeycomb).

1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text the inch-pound units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D5229/D5229M-20

Standard Test Method for Moisture Absorption Properties and Equilibrium Conditioning of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

C393-00

Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Sandwich Constructions

C271/C271M-16(2022)e1

Standard Test Method for Density of Sandwich Core Materials (Includes all amendments and changes 5/11/2022).

E456-13a(2022)e1

Standard Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics (Includes all amendments and changes 4/16/2024).

D883-26b

Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics (Includes all amendments and changes 8/24/2026).

D2584-25

Standard Test Method for Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins

D2734-23

Standard Test Methods for Void Content of Reinforced Plastics

D3171-22

Standard Test Methods for Constituent Content of Composite Materials

D3878-26

Standard Terminology for Composite Materials

D792-20

Standard Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement

D5687/D5687M-20

Standard Guide for Preparation of Flat Composite Panels with Processing Guidelines for Specimen Preparation

D5961/D5961M-23

Standard Test Method for Bearing Response of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates

E4-24

Standard Practices for Force Calibration and Verification of Testing Machines

E6-25

Standard Terminology Relating to Methods of Mechanical Testing

E122-17(2022)

Standard Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or Process

E177-26a

Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods (Includes all amendments and changes 5/14/2026).