What factor is critical when ensuring core contact in sandwich construction during fitting?

In sandwich construction, ensuring direct core contact with fittings is crucial because this contact is essential for transferring loads effectively throughout the structure. When components are fitted, the core material must make proper contact with the fittings to ensure that structural integrity is maintained. The core acts as a spacer, providing stiffness and preventing buckling under load. If there is inadequate contact, it can lead to localized stress concentrations and potential failure of the composite structure.

Direct core contact allows for the forces applied to be evenly distributed across the core, reducing the likelihood of delamination between the core and the outer skins. Proper adhesion and load distribution are critical factors in maintaining the strength and performance of the composite structure, making this aspect particularly significant in the design and assembly process. Other factors like adhesive thickness, component alignment, and the material of the outer skins do play roles in the overall integrity and performance, but without direct core contact, these other contributions may not be effective in ensuring the reliability of the assembly.