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Sandwich panels are widely used in the design of unmanned satellites and, in addition to having a structural function, can often serve as shielding, protecting the satellites’ equipment from hypervelocity impacts (HVI) of orbital debris and micrometeoroids. This paper provides a comprehensive review of experimental studies in the field of HVI on sandwich panels with honeycomb- and open-cell foam cores, as well as an examination of available predictive models for the assessment of the panels’ ballistic limits. The emphasis of the review is placed on: (i) identifying gaps in the existing experimental database and the appropriate directions for its further expansion; and (ii) understanding the limitations of the available predictive models and the potential for their improvement.

Lightweight sandwich panels have been used in various industry sectors due to their unique properties as well as a high ratio of stiffness-to-weight and energy absorption. Three-dimensional (3D) printing process provides a unique opportunity to fabricate highly complex shapes of sandwich panels and also the application of smart materials, such as shape memory polymers, can create unique functionality for the 3D printed sandwich structure so that they can change their shape in response to external stimuli and give a new dimension to the printing process called four-dimensional (4D) printing. Polylactic acid is a biodegradable and compostable polymer with a good shape memory effect that can be printed easily with an inexpensive fused deposition modeling. This study investigated the effect of printing and activation parameters on the functionality, in particular shape recovery, of the deformed sandwich structure with honeycomb out-of-plane tailored core. The input parameters were the activation temperature, the nozzle temperature, and the printing velocity. The results showed that the optimum recovery ratio can be achieved using a higher activations and nozzle temperatures and lower printing speed.

This article addresses the issue of vibration and noise reduction in laminated sandwich plates using piezoelectric patches with passive shunted damping. A finite element implementation of a laminated sandwich plate with viscoelastic core and surface bonded piezoelectric patches is used to obtain the frequency response of the panels. The sound transmission characteristics of the panels are evaluated by computing their radiated sound power using the Rayleigh integral method. Resistor and inductor shunt damping circuits are used to add damping to the sandwich panels. The optimal location of the surface-bonded piezoelectric patches is then obtained, along with the resistor and inductor circuits resistance and inductance, using direct multisearch optimization to minimize added weight, number of patches, and noise radiation. Trade-off Pareto optimal fronts and the respective optimal patch configurations are obtained.

This study aimed to develop a knowledge about material parameters identification of the foam core and numerical modelling of the sandwich panels to accurately predict the behaviour of this kind of structures. The polyisocyanurate foam (PIR) with low density used in sandwich panels dedicated to civil engineering is examined in the paper. A series of experiments (tensile, compression and bending tests) were carried out to identify its mechanical parameters. To determine the heterogeneity of analysed foam a Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique, named Aramis, is applied in the paper. The results obtained from FE analyses are compared with the experimental results on full-size plates carried out by the author and proper conclusions are drawn.

Timber-concrete composite panels are commonly used as a sustainable alternative for reinforced concrete floor construction systems. Their performance also continues to advance with new approaches to interfacial shear connection and layer composition, for example as three-layer sandwich panels with a concrete compressive face layer, timber tensile face layer, and a cellular core. Due to significant difference in stiffness of the layers, such sandwich panels demonstrate large transverse shear deformations when subjected to bending. Existing finite element modelling techniques, relying on traditional shell or solid elements, can become computationally expensive when simulating the behaviour of sandwich panels. This paper presents a new composite element for simplified numerical modelling of sandwich panels, greatly reducing the computational effort. The proposed element comprises two face layers connected by an interlayer, with face layers considered as beams and the interlayer considered as springs. A numerical model was developed using the proposed element and was validated against finite element results of linear sandwich beams and experimental results of nonlinear, cellular-cored timber-concrete sandwich panels.

An alternative elastoplastic model based on the Flory’s right Cauchy-Green stretch tensor decomposition is proposed and applied to model soft cores of sandwich panels. It does not follow usual methodologies as the additive decomposition or the Kroner-Lee multiplicative decomposition of strains. It is based on an important hyperelastic relation, Flory’s decomposition, from which the total strain is separated in two isochoric and one volumetric parts. Using this decomposition, the volumetric strain energy continues to be elastic during all elastoplastic analysis and the isochoric parts are managed to produce the plastic evolution. As a consequence of Flory’s decomposition, the plastic flow direction is known and independent of the yielding surfaces. Moreover, it provides the well known deviatoric nature of plastic strains. For validation purposes, the resulting formulation is implemented using a special 3D prismatic element in a geometrical nonlinear positional FEM computational code. The achieved numerical results are compared with literature experimental data of soft core laminated structural elements.

This paper deals with the local loss of stability (wrinkling) problem of a thin facing of a sandwich panel. Classical solutions to the problem of a facing instability resting on a homogeneous and isotropic substructure (a core) are compared. The relations between strain energy components associated with different forms of core deformations are discussed. Next, a new solution for the orthotropic core is presented in detail, which is consistent with the classic solution for the isotropic core. Selected numerical examples confirm the correctness of the analytical formulas. In the last part, parametric analyses are carried out to illustrate the sensitivity of wrinkling stress to a change in the material parameters of the core. These analyses illustrate the possibility of using the equations derived in the article for the variability of Poisson’s ratio from −1 to 1 and for material parameters strongly deviating from isotropy.

This paper studies the plastic forming of sandwich panels and proposes a universal elastoplastic equivalent method suitable for sandwich panels. To verify the generality of the equivalent method, according to the different core structures, the cores of bi-directional trapezoidal sandwich (BTS) panels and aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) panels are equated to orthotropic and isotropic (special orthotropic) single-layer panels respectively. Through the finite element (FE) numerical simulation of the mesoscopic model of the sandwich panel, the elastoplastic constitutive relationship of the equivalent core model is established, and then the macroscopic equivalent model of the sandwich panel is established. The FE numerical simulation of plastic forming was carried out for the mesoscopic model and equivalent model of BTS panel and AFS panel, and plastic forming experiments were conducted for the sandwich panel through a multi-point forming (MPF) test machine. The results show that the relative errors of the section average stress at the same position of the equivalent model and the mesoscopic model of sandwich panels are all within 4%, compared with the experimental results, the equivalent model of the sandwich panel has high forming accuracy and small shape error, which verifies the high accuracy and generality of the equivalent method. Moreover, using the sandwich panel equivalent model effectively reduces the calculation time of the numerical simulation.

Impact resistance and energy absorbing capability are of great interest in the design of composite sandwich structures. This paper experimentally studies damage, failure and energy absorption properties of foam core sandwich panels with aluminum and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) facesheets subjected to low velocity impact. Tests are performed using a drop weight impact tower at different impact velocities. The energy absorbing capabilities of aluminum and composite facesheet sandwich panels with PUR and PS foam core are evaluated by means of absorbed energy-time histories and by specific parameters as normalized absorbed energy, specific energy absorption, and crush force efficiency. Stiffer panels behave better at lower impact velocities, while more ductile ones do better if impact energy is increased.

Extensive studies have been previously carried out on the effects of various types of local damage on the performance of sandwich panels used in the hull structures of naval ships. More recently, the approach was adapted for application on board a specific ship series. Strength reduction data were obtained for a set of sandwich materials that were representative for the vessels in question. The face sheet materials were glass fibre-reinforced plastics with non-crimp fabrics and two different types of vinylester resin. The core materials were PVC foams. Tests were performed on laminate specimens with and without circular holes under tensile loading and on sandwich face sheets with holes, cracks and impact damage under compressive loading. The strength reductions caused by impacts with sharp and blunt objects were compared with those caused by machined cracks and circular holes, respectively, and with Whitney and Nuismer’s point stress and average stress models for infinitely large laminates with cracks and holes. It was found that strength reductions due to impact damage can be estimated using tests on specimens with machined cracks and holes, and also with the average stress models if appropriate values of characteristic length are assumed. Special attention is paid to the need to take account of the geometry and the finite size of tested specimens.

Insulated pre-cast concrete wall panels, also called sandwich panels, consist in two external concrete layers, in which an internal layer of thermal insulation material is inserted between, aiming better acoustic and thermal performance. One of the main concerns regarding the performance of these panels refers to the elimination of thermal bridges caused by metallic connectors, which jeopardize the panels’ thermal efficiency. One of the proposals to solve this problem consists in the use of PERFOFRP connectors, which are plane plates with perforated holes through its thickness, which are embedded into the concrete plates, creating anchorage pins that enhance the shear strength and the layers’ debonding resistance. This research had the objective of evaluating the production quality of this type of connector, produced with a low-cost and easy-to-use vacuum assisted resin infusion system; considering the effects of: (a) resin plate homogeneity, by taking samples from various locations on the plate; (b) fabrication repeatability; and (c) raw production materials’ origin; on the results of: (I) ultimate tensile stress, (II) modulus of elasticity, and (III) volume fraction of fibre. Also, 18 specimens in the form of representative models of the shear connector in insulated pre-cast concrete wall panels, with six different hole configurations achieved by varying the holes’ diameter and spacing, were subjected to push-out tests, to assess the holes’ diameter and spacing effects on the mechanical performance of the connection in terms of ultimate load capacity and stiffness. The results indicated a production quality with a satisfactory level of characteristics variation, considering: the variability in different parts of a single composite plate, the variability between composite plates from different infusion process, and the variability between different production batches. Furthermore, the push-out tests demonstrated that the perforated connectors presented, when compared to non-perforated connectors: a gain in shear strength from 8% to 25%, lower relative displacements, and higher levels of stiffness. It was also observed that connectors with 25.40 mm diameter holes presented better performance than connectors with 31.75 mm diameter holes; and that the reducing the hole spacing from 2.00 to 1.75, for the 25.40 mm diameter specimens, caused a decrease in the load capacity of the connector. Thus, it was verified that variations on the hole’s diameter and spacing influenced the load carrying capacity of the connection. resumo: Paredes de concreto pré-moldado com isolamento incorporado, também chamadas de painéis sanduíche, consistem em duas camadas externas de concreto, entre as quais uma camada interna de material isolante é inserida, visando melhorar os desempenhos acústico e térmico. Uma das principais preocupações em relação ao desempenho desses painéis refere-se à eliminação de pontes térmicas causadas por conectores metálicos, que comprometem a eficiência térmica dos painéis. Uma das propostas para resolver esse problema consiste no uso de conectores PERFOFRP, que consistem em placas planas perfuradas, embebidas em ambas as camadas externas de concreto, que criam pinos de ancoragem que aumentam a resistência ao cisalhamento dos painéis e à separação das camadas de concreto. Esta pesquisa objetivou avaliar a qualidade de produção desse tipo de conector, produzido com um sistema de infusão por resina à vácuo de baixo custo e de fácil uso; considerando os efeitos da: (a) homogeneidade da placa de PRFV; (b) repetibilidade de fabricação; e (c) origem das matérias-primas; sobre os resultados de: (I) tensão última à tração, (II) módulo de elasticidade, e (III) fração volumétrica de fibras. Além disso, 18 espécimes na forma de modelos representativos do conector de cisalhamento em painéis sanduíche, com seis configurações diferentes de perfuração obtidas por meio da variação do diâmetro e do espaçamento entre os furos, foram submetidos à ensaios push-out, para avaliar o efeito que essas variações produzem no desempenho mecânico da conexão em termos de capacidade de carga final e de rigidez. Os resultados indicaram uma qualidade de produção com um nível satisfatório de variação das características, considerando: a variabilidade em diferentes pontos de uma única placa, a variabilidade entre placas compostas por diferentes processos de infusão e a variabilidade entre diferentes lotes de produção. Além disso, os testes push-out demonstraram que os conectores perfurados apresentaram, quando comparados com conectores não perfurados: um ganho na resistência ao cisalhamento variando entre 8% e 25%, deslocamentos relativos mais baixos e níveis mais elevados de rigidez. Observou-se também que os conectores com furos de 25.40 mm de diâmetro apresentaram melhor desempenho do que os conectores com furos de 31.75 mm de diâmetro; e que a redução do espaçamento entre furos de 2.00 para 1.75, para as amostras de 25.40 mm de diâmetro, causou uma diminuição na capacidade de carga do conector. Assim, verificou-se que as variações no diâmetro e no espaçamento do furo influenciaram a capacidade de carga da conexão.

International audience; This paper deals with the dynamic characterisation of plate structures with elliptical orthotropic stiffness properties, using an equivalent thin plate theory using a wave fitting approach. The method consists in projecting the experimentally determined transverse displacement field of a plate on an analytical Green’s function of an elliptical orthotropic plate based on Hankel’s functions. The error between the projected and measured fields is then minimized, varying the characteristics of the function until an optimal fit is reached. The thus obtained characteristics are the two flexural rigidities defining the elliptical orthotropy of the plate, and the orthotropy angle. This fitting procedure is applied at each frequency, enabling the determination of frequency dependent dynamic material properties. The method is applied to a honeycomb sandwich panel to validate the proposed fitting approach. The identified flexural rigidities are compared to the estimations obtained by means of an analytical model and the IWC (Inhomogeneous Wave Correlation) method assuming three different type of plate characteristics (anisotropic, orthotropic and elliptical orthotropic). For the elliptical orthotropic assumption, consistent results are observed between the methods and the model over a large frequency range (from 1 to 50 kHz).

This work investigates the mechanical behaviour of a sustainable sandwich panel, consisting of bamboo rings core, treated aluminium skins and epoxy adhesive. A Design of Experiment (DoE) is used to identify the effects of bamboo diameters (30 and 45 mm) and aluminium skin treatments (alkaline degreasing and application of primer) on the mechanical and physical properties of sandwich panels. The aluminium skins treated with the wash primer significantly increase adhesion to the polymer, resulting in greater maximum load, flexural strength, maximum skin stress and maximum core shear stress; while the skins treated with NaOH resulted in a greater flexural and core shear modulus. Relatively more rigid and resistant structures are obtained with Ø30 mm rings, due to the increased surface contact area and the number of constraints on the core. The samples fail due to the skin fracture, implying an efficient face-core bond that is attributed to the proper absorption of the polymer by bamboo and the treatment of the aluminium surface. The proposed panels present good mechanical performance, proving to be a feasible and promising alternative for secondary structural applications.

Sandwich panels are commonly used in facades and the roofs of industrial buildings due to their well-known advantages. However, there is limited data about the in-plane behavior of the panels. Hence, this paper aimed to propose a pseudoelastic truss model to represent the effective in-plane stiffness and strength properties of the corrugated sandwich panels with a polyurethane foam core. Two separate sets of experiments (mock-up and system test) were conducted in the laboratory. The variables were the number of fasteners, sheet thickness, loading direction, and number of ribs. The number of fasteners, sheet thickness, and loading direction are the most effective parameters for the in-plane behavior. A formula was proposed to compute axial stiffness of the truss members by considering the effective parameters. Experimental results showed that the proposed robust truss model could give a good estimate of the pseudoelastic stiffness and maximum load bearing capacity of the sandwich panels. Turkish Precast Concrete Association This study was conducted in the framework of ITuNOVA Technology Transfer Office Research Project titled Determination of In-plane Behavior of Corrugated Sandwich Panel Type Roof Shelters. The finan-cial support provided by Turkish Precast Concrete Association through this project is greatly appreciated. The study was conducted at the Structural and Earthquake Engineering Laboratory (STEELab) of Istanbul Technical University. Support of the laboratory staff and the contributions of Gunkut Barka and Hakan Atakody are gratefully acknowledged.

The need for more effective defence systems is of critical importance because of the rising risk of explosive attacks. Sandwich panels are used as plastically deforming sacrificial structures, absorbing blast wave energy. To the authors&rsquo, knowledge, the blast behaviour of sandwich panels with connected (welded/bolted/riveted) corrugated layers has been well covered in literature. Hence, the aim of this numerical study was to develop new, easy-to-build, non-expensive, graded sandwich panel with &lsquo, unconnected&rsquo, corrugated layers that can be used as a multipurpose sacrificial protective structure against wide range of blast threats. The proposed sandwich panel is composed of six unconnected aluminium (AL6063-T4) core layers encased in a steel (Weldox E) frame with 330 &times, 330 &times, 150 mm overall dimensions. The numerical analysis was conducted using Abaqus/Explicit solver. First, the performance of four different nongraded layer topologies (trapezoidal, triangular, sinusoidal, and rectangular) was compared, when subjected to ~16 MPa peak reflected over-pressure (M = 0.5 kg of TNT at R = 0.5 m). Results showed that the trapezoidal topology outperformed other topologies, with uniform progressive collapse, lower reaction force, and higher plastic dissipation energy. Then, the trapezoidal topology was further analysed to design a &lsquo, graded&rsquo, sandwich panel that can absorb a wide range of blast intensities (~4, 7, 11, 13, and 16 MPa peak reflected over-pressures) by using a (0.4, 0.8, 1.2 mm) stepwise thickness combination for the layers. In conclusion, the superior performance of the proposed sandwich panel with unconnected graded layers can be considered as a novel alternative to the conventional costly laser-welded sandwich panels. Applications of the new solution range from protecting civil structures to military facilities.

The trend for utilizing sustainable products is becoming increasingly important in the construction industry. Precast concrete sandwich systems containing expanded polystyrene (EPS) is gradually replacing the conventional blockwork systems due to its lightweight, enhanced insulation properties and rapid installation. Accordingly, there is a need to optimize the design and production of this system to provide superior insulation, durability and rapid installation while ensuring adequate bonding, strength and mechanical properties to sufficiently fit its purpose. Research has shown that the system’s technical properties are highly dependent on the mix design and the production and installation methods. This study involved the design and production of a sustainable lightweight precast concrete sandwich panel for non-load bearing partition wall systems. An experimental program was developed to identify the optimum mixture proportions for the EPS concrete core. Practical procedures for system production and installation were proposed. Physical and mechanical properties for the proposed EPS concrete system were determined based on experimental testing and calculations. A relationship between the plastic density of fresh EPS concrete and its compressive strength was established to ensure quality control before concrete is cast. Results revealed a high degree of correlation of 0.97 between the core density and compressive strength. Technical comparison revealed that the proposed system is superior in comparison to the conventional lightweight blockwork system. Furthermore, the installation time for the proposed partition wall system was 3 times faster in comparison with the conventional block work system, which would lead to significant reduction in the total cost.

International audience; The aerospace, automotive, and marine industries are heavily reliant on sandwich panels with cellular material cores. Although honeycombs with hexagonal cells are the most commonly used geometries as cores, recently there have been new alternatives in the design of lightweight structures. The present work aims to evaluate the mechanical properties of metallic and polymeric honeycomb structures, with configurations recently proposed and different in-plane orientations, produced by additive and subtractive manufacturing processes. Structures with configurations such as regular hexagonal honeycomb (Hr), lotus (Lt), and hexagonal honeycomb with Plateau borders (Pt), with 0°, 45°, and 90° orientations were analyzed. To evaluate its properties, three-point bending tests were performed, both experimentally and by numerical modeling, by means of the finite element method. Honeycombs of two aluminum alloys and polylactic acid were fabricated. The structures produced in aluminum were obtained either by selective laser melting technology or by machining, while polylactic acid structures were obtained by material extrusion using fused filament fabrication. From the stress distribution analysis and the load–displacement curves, it was possible to evaluate the strength, stiffness, and absorbed energy of the structures. Failure modes were also analyzed for polylactic acid honeycombs. In general, a strong correlation was observed between numerical and experimental results. The results show that the stiffness and absorbed energy increase in the order, Hr, Pt, Lt, and with the orientation through the sequence, 45°, 90°, 0°. Thus, Lt structures with 0° orientation seem to be good alternatives to the traditional honeycombs used in sandwich composite panels for those industrial applications where low weight, high stiffness, and large energy-absorbing capacity are required.

In this paper, we present an original experimental investigation on a pull-out test of a blind rivet from the external facing of sandwich panels with various core layer materials (polyisocyanurate foam, mineral wool, and expanded polystyrene). The blind rivets were subjected to an axial and eccentric tensile force introduced as static and quasi-cyclic loading. The statistical sample size was 5. The laboratory results depicted that the core layer of a sandwich panel influenced the load-displacement path of the investigated blind rivet connections, regardless of the nature of the load (static, quasi-cyclic) and the point of the load application (axial, eccentric). It was observed that the blind connection with the polyisocyanurate foam core sandwich panel was characterized by a reduction of both the capacity and the secant stiffness when compared with the blind connection with the mineral wool or the expanded polystyrene core sandwich panels. Moreover, the tested connections demonstrated that the eccentric load gave a higher flexural stiffness than the axial load and that the quasi-cyclic load did not reduce their stiffness and capacity.

This paper presents the modelling and the dynamic characterisation of laminated composite plates and sandwich structures in terms of stiffness and damping. The developments used in this paper are based on the analytical multilayer model of Guyader and Lesueur (JSV, 1978). The model considers linear shear, membrane and bending effects in each layer. The characteristics of the structure are determined by means of an equivalent thin plate methodology. The first main novelty of this paper consists in adapting this methodology for laminated plates (orthotropic multilayers with arbitrary orthotropic angle per layer). An experimental validation of this adaptation is presented for a laminated composite plate. Concerning the modelling of the structural loss factor, a space domain definition based on the spatial attenuation of a plane wave is compared to an energetic method and an equivalent definition based on the thin plate theory. The results show that the equivalent definition overestimates the loss factor in high frequencies since the thin plate theory only considers the flexural behaviour of the structure. On the contrary, the space domain definition (which give similar results as compared to the energetic one for lightly damped structures) considers the frequency dependent variation of the dynamic behaviour of the structure by means of the ratio between the group and phase velocities. The latter approach is considered to be more correct. The second main novelty of this article is on the experimental validation of this space domain definition. The structural loss factors of two sandwich structures are identified from measurements using modal, energetic and spatial methods. The results using the space domain definition are in very good agreement with the analytical predictions and the estimations of the modal and energetic methods for both plates for a large frequency band (up to 20 kHz), demonstrating the validity of the approach developed in this paper. ispartof: Journal Of Sound And Vibration vol:474 status: published

The energy absorption and structural isolation performance of axially-compressed sandwich structures constructed with stiff face plates separated with an auxetic lattice core metamaterial is studied. Advances in additive manufacturing increasingly allow bespoke, carefully designed, structures to be included within the core lattice to enhance mechanical performance. Currently, the internal structure of the lattice core is deliberately disrupted geometrically to engineer suitable post-buckling behaviour under quasi-static loading. The desirable properties of a high fundamental stiffness and a practically zero underlying stiffness in the post-buckling range ensure that energy may be absorbed within a limited displacement and that any transfer of strain to an attached structure is minimized as far as is feasible. It is demonstrated that such disruptions can be arranged to enhance the panel performance. The concept may be extended to promote cellular buckling where the internal lattice buckles with densification occurring at defined locations and in sequence to absorb energy while maintaining a low underlying mechanical stiffness.

Moisture dry-out from steel-faced insulated sandwich panels has previously received little attention from researchers. This paper reports the results from laboratory tests and dynamic heat, air, and moisture transport simulations of the moisture dry-out capabilities of a steel-faced sandwich panel with a mineral wool core. Three test walls (TWs) with dimensions of 1.2 m &times, 0.4 m &times, 0.23 m were put above water containers to examine the moisture transport through the TWs. A calibrated simulation model was used to investigate the hygrothermal regime of a sandwich panel wall enclosure with different initial moisture contents and panel joint tightening tapes. The moisture dry-out capacity of the studied sandwich panels is limited (up to 2 g/day through a 30-mm-wide and 3-m-long vertical joint without tapes). When the vertical joint was covered with a vapour-permeable tape, the moisture dry-out was reduced to 1 g/day and when the joint was covered with a vapour-retarding tape, the dry-out was negligible. A very small amount of rain would be enough to raise the moisture content to water vapour saturation levels inside the sandwich wall, had the rain ingressed the enclosure. The calculated time of wetness (TOW) on the internal surface of the outer steel sheet stayed indefinitely at about 5500 h/year when vapour-retarding tapes were used and the initial relative humidity (RH) was over 80%. TOW stabilised to about 2000 h/year when a vapour-permeable tape was used regardless of the initial humidity inside the panel. A vapour-permeable tape allowed moisture dry-out but also vapour diffusion from the outside environment. To minimise the risk of moisture damage, avoiding moisture ingress during construction time or due to accidents is necessary. Additionally, a knowledge-based method is recommended to manage moisture safety during the construction process.

Sandwich panels have proven to be excellent energy absorbents. Such panels may be used as a protective structure in, for example, fa&ccedil, ades subjected to explosions. In this study, the dynamic response of sandwich structures subjected to blast loading has been investigated both experimentally and numerically, utilizing a shock tube facility. Sandwich panels made of aluminium skins and a core of extruded polystyrene (XPS) with different densities were subjected to various blast load intensities. Low-velocity impact tests on XPS samples were also conducted for validation and calibration of a viscoplastic extension of the Deshpande-Fleck crushable foam model. The experimental results revealed a significant increase in blast load mitigation for sandwich panels compared to skins without a foam core, and that the back-skin deformation and the core compression correlated with the foam density. Numerical models of the shock tube tests were created using LS-DYNA, incorporating the new viscoplastic formulation of the foam material. The numerical models were able to capture the trends observed in the experimental tests, and good quantitative agreement between the experimental and predicted responses was in general obtained. One aim of this study is to provide high-precision experimental data, combined with a validated numerical modelling strategy, that can be used in simulation-based optimisation of sandwich panels exposed to blast loading.

Connections represent major challenges in the design of composite structures, mainly because they entail discontinuities in the geometry of the structure and material properties, and introduce high local stress concentrations. Despite some constructability complications, integrated connection could be a reliable solution. In this paper, the structural behaviour of an integrated connection for implementation between adjacent composite sandwich panels in rapid assembly buildings is studied. The integrated connection system consists of 3-D high density polyethylene (HDPE) skin faces, and cores of high-density polyurethane (PUR) foam integrated into the sandwich panels at the moment of their production. The study included experimental investigations regarding the mechanical and structural response of the connection under actual applied loads, and its torsional rigidity, rotational stiffness and behaviour under lateral loading is investigated. Using Finite Element modelling, the stress distribution and the mechanisms of failure are studied. The results show a good agreement between the numerical and experimental results.

This paper discusses the thermal buckling analysis of composite plates and sandwich panels by means of a Ritz-based variable-kinematic formulation. Main feature of the proposed formulation consists in the representation of the structure by means of sublaminates, i.e. arbitrary groups of plies composing the panel. Each sublaminate is associated with an independent, arbitrary kinematic description, so that the use of refined, high-order theories can be restricted to specific regions, such as the core of sandwich panels. Monolithic plates can be studied as a special case where the structure is modeled using only one sublaminate. Presented are the critical temperatures, with and without accounting for the nonlinear pre-buckling effects, for a set of monolithic and sandwich configurations. When pre-buckling effects are neglected, the problem is solved as a standard eigenvalue problem. On the other hand, the introduction of pre-buckling effects leads to a nonlinear eigenvalue problem, which is solved with an iterative procedure. The results are validated against 3D solutions, and highlight the importance of accounting for pre-buckling deformations, especially in the case of sandwich panels. As demonstrated, high-fidelity predictions are obtained while keeping at minimum the amount of degrees of freedom.

Honeycomb sandwich panels entice continuously enhanced attention due to its excellent mechanical properties and multi-functional applications. However, the principal problem of sandwich panels is failure by face/core debond. Novel lightweight sandwich panels with hybrid core made of honeycomb, foam and through-thickness pin was developed. Reinforcing polyester pins between faces and core is an effectual way to strengthen the core and enhance the interfacial strength between the face/core to improve the structural performance of sandwich panels. To provide feasibility for pin reinforcement, honeycomb core was pre-filled with foam. Mechanical properties enhancement due to polyester pinning were investigated experimentally under flatwise compression, edgewise compression and flexural test. The experimental investigations were carried out for both “foam filled honeycomb sandwich panels” (FHS) and “polyester pin-reinforced foam filled honeycomb sandwich panels” (PFHS). The results show that polyester pin reinforcement in foam filled honeycomb sandwich panel enhanced the flatwise, edgewise compression and flexural properties considerably. Moreover, increasing the pin diameter has a larger effect on the flexural rigidity of PFHS panels. PFHS panels have inconsequential increase in weight but appreciably improved their structural performance.

Composite sandwich panels are being increasingly considered for civil engineering structural applications, offering high versatility in constituent materials and their geometrical arrangement. This translates to a high number of design variables, in addition to a potentially large number of design requirements and objectives related to the panels’ functions. This paper presents an optimization study of a composite sandwich panel system for building floor rehabilitation, using the Direct MultiSearch (DMS) method. Pultruded multicellular panels with a polyurethane (PUR) foam core and carbon- or glass-fibre reinforced polymer (C/GFRPF) faces and ribs/webs are considered. The panel architecture was defined using 3 geometrical variables and 14 material related variables. In addition, 8 competing objective functions were studied, related to aspects such as structural serviceability and resistance, thermal insulation, acoustic performance, cost minimization, and environmental performance. The results are presented in the form of Pareto optimal sets, from which several conclusions are drawn regarding common design-related options. The influence of core material density, of the number of ribs/webs, or of the type of fibre reinforcement and its respective layup on the different objective functions are addressed. Optimal solutions for meeting different design purposes are presented, providing useful insights for structural designers and sandwich panel manufacturers.

Precast sandwich panels, characterized by external textile reinforced concrete (TRC) layers and an inner insulation core, represent a convenient system for energy retrofitting of existing façades. These elements fulfil all the requirements for façade systems and constitute a valid alternative to both external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) and ventilated façades. The main feature of this kind of panel is that it could be applied on an existing façade through four punctual connectors by means of a crane, without any scaffolding. The paper provides a solution that has been firstly designed within the European project 'EASEE' and it is now being developed in the 'Smart P.I.QU.E.R.' project, supported by Lombardy Region (Italy). Basing on the experience gained in the European project, the partners are trying to overcome some criticisms previously encountered, related to the use of expanded polystyrene as insulation material, the cost of the anchoring system and aesthetical issues related to TRC cracking. The main innovations concern: the development of a new eco-friendly insulation material based on inorganic diatomite; the optimization of TRC layers; the development of a new anchoring system. This paper focuses on the research developed at the material level referring to both external layers and insulating core.

The paper discusses the influence of load and support conditions on the behaviour of sandwich panels subjected to torsion. 3-D numerical models are presented, in which various boundary conditions have been defined. The case of the load causing the concentrated torque in the span is analyzed, and the load definition affects the structural response. The numerical results were compared with the results obtained for the analytical beam model, which included both free torsion and secondary warping torsion. The conditions under which the models achieve a high agreement between the results were determined, but the significant sensitivity of the solution was also indicated. In each case of the considered load and boundary conditions, the structural response shows appropriate symmetry.

This paper presents a novel numerical tool for the bending analysis of thin and thick composite plates, including monolithic and sandwich structures. The formulation is developed within a displacement-based approach, where the Principle of Virtual Displacements (PVD) and the method of Ritz are adopted to derive the governing equations. The approach relies upon the Sublaminate Generalized Unified Formulation (S-GUF) as underlying kinematic theory describing the behavior across the plate thickness. Main idea of the S-GUF is to group the plies into a number of smaller units called sublaminates, each of them characterized by an independent, variable-kinematic theory. Continuity conditions between the sublaminates are enforced in strong form during the assembly procedure of the governing equations. The S-GUF appears particularly useful when theories of different order are needed to approximate the displacement field of different portions of the structure, such as in the case of sandwich panels. A number of test cases from the literature is discussed, and results are validated against exact 3D solutions. The results demonstrate the ability of the approach to obtain accurate results, both in terms of deformed shapes, and intra- and inter-laminar stress distributions. A set of novel results is also presented for future benchmarking purposes.

Structural response and failure modes of honeycomb sandwich panels subjected to a shock (impulsive pressure) followed by a high velocity projectile impact were investigated using detailed finite element simulations. Performance of sandwich panels was quantified by maximum transverse deflection of the bottom face sheet and core crushing strain along with an investigation of their optimal behavior. Three failure modes were observed in panels - core failure, top face failure, and tearing and detachment from support. Failure maps of honeycomb sandwich panels were constructed to show the failure mode of panels as a function of shock intensity, projectile velocity and panel core relative density. In addition, a limited set of simulations were carried out to study the role of incident angle of projectile on the overall performance of a panel. These simulations showed that maximum deflection occurred for vertically impacting projectiles. However, we found that this did not directly translate to maximum core crushing strain in sandwich panels. The results provide new insight into the performance and failure of sandwich panels under complex dynamic loading conditions, and further highlight the potential of these panels for development of threat-resistant structural systems. 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This work has been supported by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) under Award Number NPRP 5-1298-2-560 . The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the Qatar National Research Fund. Scopus

Building, naval, and automotive industries have deep interest in eco-friendly, lightweight, stiff and strong materials. In addition, materials with low thermal conductivity are desirable in many applications where energy savings and thermal comfort are needed. In response to these requirements, sandwich panels were manufactured using glass and jute fiber composite skins bonded to different cores: balsa wood, Divinycell® and honeycombs. These honeycombs, as well as the skins, were manufactured by the vacuum infusion technique using polyester resin and jute, glass and carbon fiber fabrics. In this work, the thermal properties and density of the sandwich panels were measured and compared. Fil: Vitale, Juan Pablo Raúl. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina Fil: Francucci, Gaston Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina Fil: Stocchi, Ariel Leonardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina

This study details a fabrication methodology envisaged to manufacture Glass/BMI honeycomb core aerogel-filled sandwich panels. Silica aerogel granules are used as core fillers to provide thermal insulation properties with little weight increase. Experimental heat transfer studies are conducted on these panels to study the temperature distribution between their two surfaces. Numerical studies are also carried out to validate the results. Despite exhibiting good thermal shielding capabilities, the Glass/BMI sandwich panels are found to oxidise at 180 ºC if exposed directly to heat. In order to increase the temperature bearing capacity and the operating temperature range for these panels, a way of coating them from outside with high temperature spray paint was tried. With a silicone-based coating, the temperature sustainability of these sandwich panels is found to increase to 350 ºC. This proved the effectiveness of the formed manufacturing process, selected high temperature coating, the coating method as well as the envisaged sandwich panel concept. Published version

A sandwich panel based on upcycled bottle caps core and sustainable components is investigated to contribute to advances in lightweight and environmentally friendly structural solutions. Ecological alternatives to the panel skin and adhesive, such as a recycled PET-bottle foil and a castor oil bio-polyurethane, respectively, are tested and compared to commercial components (aluminium skin and epoxy polymer). Bottle caps are characterised using a small punch test specially developed to obtain the properties of the bottle caps. Additionally, low-cost reinforcement (Portland cement) is added to adhesives to enhance the mechanical behaviour of the panel. The sustainable panels achieve enhanced efficiency compared to aluminium-based panels for core shear strength and stiffness, besides having similar specific flexural properties compared to those of epoxy-based PET panels. Despite their higher strength and stiffness, epoxy polymer-based panels show visible adhesive peeling off to bottle caps core and aluminium skin. In contrast, the biopolymer exhibits larger deformation and debonding of both substrates, indicating a progressive and ductile failure. The satisfactory efficiency of sustainable panels confirms the promising reuse of recycled bottle caps in structural applications.

This paper presents work developing thin precast concrete sandwich panels for recladding and overcladding applications. These panels are designed for the retrofit of precast concrete structures where the underlying frame is structurally sound. Structural and thermal testing has been carried out to validate the performance of the panels. The panels are designed to have thermal performance better than current national standards, and this has been verified through hot-box testing of components and small-scale panels. Structural performance of the panels has been tested with 3 point bending tests on full-scale panels. Work is in progress towards demonstration of the panels on an occupied building in the UK.

The aim of this study was to create a reinforced composite wood-based panel that would be leaned towards the environment Plywood was used as a core material and fiber-reinforced polymer was used as a reinforcement. Conventional resin for the fiber-reinforced polymer was substituted with polyvinyl acetate (PVAC), which has several advantages, such as a lower price, easier handling, and better degradability. The second chosen component, basalt fiber, is cost attractive and environmentally friendly. The combination of one and two layers of fabric with three fiber fractions and 4 mm thick plywood was investigated. The best results were achieved with two layers of fabric and the highest fiber fraction. The improvements of the ultimate bending load and bending stiffness of the plywood in the perpendicular direction were 305% and 325%, respectively. The ultimate load and stiffness of the parallel direction were improved by 31% and 35%, respectively. However, specimens always failed in the compressional zone. The highest reinforcing effect was found with the impact test: The energy required to fracture specimens increased by 4213% and 6150% for one and two layers of fabric, respectively. In conclusion, specimens exhibited high ductility due to the PVAC and basalt fiber. The amount of work and energy required to cause fractures was extensive.

Three-dimensional carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) cores are high performance ultra-lightweight materials that can reduce the structural mass of vehicles used in the transportation and aerospace industry, increasing capabilities and performance, and reducing fuel consumption. In this work, three different carbon fiber cores are obtained using an interlocking method from flat composite laminates with different geometries. The density of the cores is maintained less than 48 kg m−3. Sandwich panels are manufactured using these cores and carbon fiber reinforced epoxy skins. Compressive properties of the sandwich panels are evaluated and the failure modes are studied. Experimental results are compared to those predicted by analytical modeling and finite element method analysis (FEM). Fil: Vitale, Juan Pablo Raúl. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina Fil: Francucci, Gaston Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina Fil: Rapp, Helmut. Universität Der Bundeswehr München; Alemania Fil: Stocchi, Ariel Leonardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina

Sandwich panel strips with prismatic cores are modelled using the modified couple stress theory and their elastic size-dependent bending behaviour investigated. Compatibility between the discrete sandwich and continuum beam kinematics is first discussed. A micromechanics-based framework to estimate effective mechanical properties is provided and unit cell models constructed with elementary beam elements to determine the stiffness parameters of various prismatic cores. Numerical studies show that the modified couple stress Timoshenko beam enhances the static deflection predictions of the classical Timoshenko model. A sensitivity measure based on structural ratios is proposed to estimate the influence of size effects in the global beam-level response. The parameters governing size effects in elastic sandwich beams are identified: Face-to-core thickness ratio, core density and topology, vertical corrugation order and set of load and boundary conditions. Size effects are shown more pronounced in low-density coresthat rely on corrugation bending as shear-carrying mechanism. Based on the external load, boundary conditions and sensitivity factor, one can assess whether size effects are non-negligible in a given engineering structure.

Manuscript version, The present paper explores a new modular floor prototype to be used in emergency houses. The prototype is composed of a frame structure made of glass-fibre-reinforced polymer tubular pultruded profiles, a slab made of sandwich panels with a polyurethane foam core and glass-fibre-reinforced polymer skins, and a tailored connection system that provides integrity between assembled components. A series of experimental tests are carried out including flexural tests on a single panel, on two and three connected panels, and on the assembled floor prototype. The behaviour of the panels is analysed when they are not considered part of the glass-fibre-reinforced polymer framed structure, namely the failure mechanisms and the efficiency of the proposed connection system between the panels. The performance of the floor prototype to support typical load conditions of residential houses is also assessed. Additionally, an analytical model was used to deeper study the behaviour of the developed sandwich panels, connection system and the modular floor prototype., SFRH/BSAB/114302/2016; ADI - project no. 38967, info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Analytical solutions for laminated and functionally graded sandwich open cylindrical shells under mechanical and thermal loads are presented using a refined higher order shear and normal deformation theory. Temperature variation through thickness is assumed as thickness coordinate polynomial. Present study also extends the classical thickness criteria with more reliable extension to moderately thick shells. Navier solution method is used to solve system of equations derived using principle of minimum potential energy for all edges diaphragm supported. Two kinds of sandwich panels with core or face sheets made of thickness graded material are studied. Several examples are numerically evaluated to establish the accuracy of present models.

In this paper, the effect of salt-fog exposition on the mechanical behavior of sandwich panels having cork agglomerate core was investigated. In particular, the aim of this research work is to assess the shield function of unidirectional basalt and E-glass reinforced polymer on the aging and failure mechanism of the core when such class of material are destined to operate in hostile environments (e.g., marine environment). To do this, the manufactured sandwich panels were exposed up to 60 days to salt-fog environment, according to ASTM B 117 standard. Unaged and aged specimens were analyzed through three point bending tests after aging time of 10, 25 and 60 days. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was carried out to perform a strain field analysis of the longitudinal cross-sections. The differences in the mechanical behavior of the synergistic cooperation of the cork core with basalt and glass fiber were highlighted thorough this technique. Moreover, the failure mechanisms related to each combinations for different aging times were described. The experimental results showed that, the intrinsic conditions of the composites (e.g., presence of defects, poor fiber-matrix adhesion), that are strictly linked to the fiber-matrix compatibility and to the impregnation quality, may induce to differences in the local mechanical behavior of the sandwich panels and to a faster aging process of the cork core in the case of basalt fiber skinned sandwich, especially in the first phases of the exposition.

This research proposes the development of innovative structural sandwich panels composed of thin outer wythes of Sisal Fiber-Cement Composites (SiFCC) and a core layer of Polypropylene FiberReinforced Lightweight Concrete (PFRLC). Sisal fibers were used in two different lengths, short sisal fibers (50 mm) randomly distributed in the matrix; and long unidirectional aligned sisal fibers (700 mm) applied by a cast hand layup technique. Lightweight aggregates and polypropylene fibers were used in the concrete core to reduce panel’s density, to improve its thermal insulation and energy absorption, and to assure the required shear capacity. The behavior of the sandwich panels in four-point bending test is described and the various failure mechanisms are reported. Pull-off tests were performed to evaluate the bond strength between SiFCC and PFRLC layers. The results revealed that the long sisal fibers were more effective in terms of increasing the ultimate flexural capacity, exhibiting a deflection hardening and multiple cracking behavior, comparing with the SiFCC laminates reinforced with short sisal fibers, which presented a deflection softening response after first cracking. The panels with short sisal fibers (SSiFCC) revealed higher bond strength between the layers in comparison to the panels with long sisal fibers (LSiFCC)., The study reported in this paper is part of the activities carried out by the Authors within the International Cooperation Project “EnCoRe - Environmentally-friendly solutions for Concrete with Recycled and Natural components” (www.encore-fp7.unisa.it), funded by the European Union within the International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7PEOPLE-2011-IRSES, n.º 295283). The first author acknowledges the research grant under this project.

The influences of various core configurations and other structural characteristics on vibrations of sandwich panels are discussed in the paper. The presented analysis contributes to efforts to resolve the contradiction between the requests for increased stiffness and reduced mass of mechanical structures. Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies enable manufacturing of complex lattice and cellular structures and design of optimal sandwich structures that satisfy both requests. Effects of each design parameters of a sandwich panel (core shape, wall thickness of plates and core, width of core) can be varied independently of the other parameters, thus contributing to change of modal behaviour of the panel. In this study a FEM calculations are used for determining of natural frequencies and mode shapes of sandwich structures designed for production by selective laser sintering technology. Analyses of the obtained results presents base for optimal design of light-weight structures in automotive, aerospace and naval industries.

Loadbearing insulating sandwich panels with Textile Reinforced Cement (TRC) faces can combine the structural and insulating performance of a conventional wall configuration in one lightweight element. This makes them very suitable as a new type of wall element for low- and high rise residential buildings. By combining 2D and 3D textiles in the TRC faces the performance of the panels can even be improved. This paper presents a preliminary investigation of the buckling behaviour of large-scale sandwich panels with combined 3D and 2D TRC faces. The large-scale experiment is compared with an analytical model. This paper shows that further in depth investigations are needed with regard to the experimental test set-up (boundary conditions) in order to establish a better agreement with the analytical model.

International audience; This is the first part of a two-part paper presenting the generalization of Reissner thick plate theory (Reissner in J. Math. Phys. 23:184–191, 1944) to laminated plates and its relation with the Bending-Gradient theory (Lebée and Sab in Int. J. Solids Struct. 48(20):2878–2888, 2011 and in Int. J. Solids Struct. 48(20):2889–2901, 2011). The original thick and homogeneous plate theory derived by Reissner (J. Math. Phys. 23:184–191, 1944) is based on the derivation of a statically compatible stress field and the application of the principle of minimum of complementary energy. The static variables of this model are the bending moment and the shear force. In the present paper, the rigorous extension of this theory to laminated plates is presented and leads to a new plate theory called Generalized-Reissner theory which involves the bending moment, its first and second gradients as static variables. When the plate is homogeneous or functionally graded, the original theory from Reissner is retrieved. In the second paper (Lebée and Sab, 2015), the Bending-Gradient theory is obtained from the Generalized-Reissner theory and comparison with an exact solution for the cylindrical bending of laminated plates is presented.

In the first part of this two-part paper (Lebee and Sab in On the generalization of Reissner plate theory to laminated plates, Part I: theory, doi: 10.1007/s10659-016-9581-6 , 2015), the original thick plate theory derived by Reissner (J. Math. Phys. 23:184–191, 1944) was rigorously extended to the case of laminated plates. This led to a new plate theory called Generalized-Reissner theory which involves the bending moment, its first and second gradients as static variables. In this second paper, the Bending-Gradient theory (Lebee and Sab in Int. J. Solids Struct. 48(20):2878–2888, 2011 and 2889–2901, 2011) is obtained from the Generalized-Reissner theory and several projections as a Reissner–Mindlin theory are introduced. A comparison with an exact solution for the cylindrical bending of laminated plates is presented. It is observed that the Generalized-Reissner theory converges faster than the Kirchhoff theory for thin plates in terms of deflection. The Bending-Gradient theory does not converge faster but improves considerably the error estimate.

Fracture in the complex balsa cores of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sandwich beams was analyzed. The cores were composed of high- and low-density balsa layers separated by a circular adhesive interface or FRP arch. The balsa layers were cut from panels which consisted of balsa blocks adhesively bonded together. Failure in the beams was initiated by cracks propagating through the balsa core thickness. The crack locations could be predicted using the Tsai-Wu failure criterion. Cracks initiated in the lowest density blocks due to their low fracture toughness. In mixed-mode fracture, crack propagation in the radial longitudinal (RL) plane prevailed due to the low fracture toughness in RL fracture of Mode I. In pure Mode II, propagation occurred in the RL and TL (transverse longitudinal) planes to the same extent since the toughness in RL and TL fracture is similar. Cracks were not able to propagate through the transverse adhesive joints between blocks if the bonding was good. If however the bonding was poor, interface failure occurred and cracks could propagate through the adhesive layer. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This work describes the manufacture and characterisation of a PEEK-based zero Poisson’s ratio honeycomb (SILICOMB) produced using Kirigami-inspired cutting and folding techniques. The flatwise compression and transverse shear properties of the structure are determined through ASTM mechanical testing, and the results compared against commercially available honeycombs, including several other zero Poisson’s ratio cellular structures. An analytical model to predict the shear strength is compared to the results. SILICOMB specimens are found to have lower stiffness compared to other honeycomb configurations, but comparable strength. Factors influencing the results and variations to the manufacturing process are discussed.

Temperature field and thermal deformation of sandwich panels with closed-cell aluminum alloy foam core and heat-protective layer, which are subjected to Gaussian laser beam intensively irradiating, are investigated numerically. In transient heat analysis models, the influence of thermal conductivity, specific heat, and thickness of heat-protective layer on the temperature rise of the sandwich panels is calculated. In stress analysis models, a sequence coupled numerical method is utilized to simulate the thermal stress and deformation of sandwich panels induced by thermal expansion. Simulation results indicate that the temperature at center of sandwich panel increases firstly and then drops gradually with the increase of thermal conductivity of heat-protective layer after laser irradiation, and the critical thermal conductivity is obtained, while it decreases with the increase of specific heat and thickness of heat-protective layer. The thermal stress verifies the ?Cyclo-hoop effect?, i. e. radial stress is compression stress in ?hot zone? and tension stress in ?cold zone?. The max thermal deformation of sandwich panels slightly increases with the increase of thickness of heat-protective layer for given specific heat and thermal conductivity.

Microtensile testing was used to determine the mechanical properties of individual aluminium alloy open- cell foam struts. Finite element (FE) modelling of as-tested struts was carried out using X-ray microtomography (XMT) scans of the undeformed struts to define the geometry. Strut deformation was described by continuum viscoplastic damage constitutive equations calibrated by the microtensile test data for the aluminium alloy's optimally aged condition. The as-tested strut FE model was used to develop a procedure that compensates for the effect of grip slippage inherent in the microtensile testing of metal foam struts, which results in a considerable underestimation of the elastic stiffness. The calibrated constitutive equations were then implemented into 3D FE models of open-cell metal foam core sandwich panels to study the effect of varying the strut aspect ratio on the mechanical properties of the core under uniform compression, as well as core damage visibility under localised impact scenarios. An optimal strut aspect ratio was identified through simulation that provides the greatest energy absorption per unit mass whilst ensuring core damage is accurately reflected by face sheet deformation, which is necessary for detection and repair. FE models of the panel subject to three and four point bending were created to provide a virtual standardised test to assess the core elastic properties.