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An energy-balance-based analytical method and finite element (FE) simulations were developed in this paper to study the dynamic response of metallic sandwich panels subject to blast loadings. The analytical model can be used to predict approximately the deflection of the panels, while the FE model can take into account fluid-structure interactions and the effect of strain rate. Both models were validated by comparing their predictions with the test results available in the literature. Parametric studies were then carried out to assess various factors that are influential in characterizing the dynamic behavior of sandwich panels subject to blast loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structure/material requires simultaneous consideration of both its design and manufacturing processes to dramatically enhance its manufacturability, assembly and maintainability. In this work, a novel design framework for structural/material with a desired mechanical performance and compelling topological design properties achieved using origami techniques is presented. The framework comprises four procedures, including topological design, unfold, reduction manufacturing, and fold. The topological design method, i.e., the solid isotropic material penalization (SIMP) method, serves to optimize the structure in order to achieve the preferred mechanical characteristics, and the origami technique is exploited to allow the structure to be rapidly and easily fabricated. Topological design and unfold procedures can be conveniently completed in a computer; then, reduction manufacturing, i.e., cutting, is performed to remove materials from the unfolded flat plate; the final structure is obtained by folding out the plate from the previous procedure. A series of cantilevers, consisting of origami parallel creases and Miura-ori (usually regarded as a metamaterial) and made of paperboard, are designed with the least weight and the required stiffness by using the proposed framework. The findings here furnish an alternative design framework for engineering structures that could be better than the 3D-printing technique, especially for large structures made of thin metal materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pyramidal lattice sandwich structure (PLSS) exhibits high stiffness and strength-to-weight ratio which can be effectively utilized for designing light-weight load bearing structures for ranging from ground to aerospace vehicles. While these structures provide superior strength to weigh ratio, their sound insulation capacity has not been well understood. The aim of this study is to develop numerical and experimental methods to fundamentally investigate the sound insulation property of the pyramidal lattice sandwich structure with solid trusses (PLSSST). A finite element model has been developed to predict the sound transmission loss (STL) of PLSSST and simulation results have been compared with those obtained experimentally. Parametric studies are then performed using the validated finite element model to investigate the effect of different parameters in pyramidal lattice sandwich structure with hollow trusses (PLSSHT), revealing that the pitching angle, the uniform thickness and the length of the hollow truss and the lattice constant have considerable effects on the sound transmission loss. Finally a design optimization strategy has been formulated to optimize PLSSHT in order to maximize STL while meeting mechanical property requirements. It has been shown that STL of the optimal PLSSHT can be increased by almost 10% at the low-frequency band. The work reported here provides useful information for the noise reduction design of periodic lattice structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]