Abstract
The sandwich beam can be considered as the multi-layered structure with a symmetrical cross-section. In this paper is assumed that the structure is created by periodical repetition of a unit cell. The influence of its size on the beam’s static behavior in bending was analyzed. The variation of the unit cells number affects the size of the cell, so the static analysis was performed – the flexural stiffness and the beam’s deflection were determined as functions of the unit cells number. The two configurations of the sandwich beams were considered: the beam with the constant cross-section along its length and the beam with the periodically variable cross-section. The graphs of the beam’s flexural stiffness and deflection variations in terms of the unit cells number were obtained. It was concluded that after a certain number of the cells, the core’s density does not further influence the behavior of the sandwich beam, under the given loading conditions. The conclusion from comparison of the two configurations is that the sandwich beam with the variable cross-section behaves somewhat better than the beam with the constant cross-section. The FEM analysis has verified all the conclusions from the analytical solution about the sandwich beams behavior when subjected to bending.
Highlights
IntroductionSandwich structures are the laminar structures that usually consist of the two thin, rigid plates – faces, which are separated by the softer layer – the core
The variation of the unit cells number affects the size of the cell, so the static analysis was performed – the flexural stiffness and the beam's deflection were determined as functions of the unit cells number
Sandwich structures are the laminar structures that usually consist of the two thin, rigid plates – faces, which are separated by the softer layer – the core
Summary
Sandwich structures are the laminar structures that usually consist of the two thin, rigid plates – faces, which are separated by the softer layer – the core. Wicks and Hutchinson (2004) have further extended their analysis to sandwich plates with truss core subjected to fracture straining and combination of the bending moment and transversal force. Valdevit et al (2004) were conducting the structural optimization of the sandwich plates with the truss core. To analyze the functionality and advantages of the sandwich structures, one should first comprehend the geometrical and mechanical factors, which influence the behavior of these structures. The attention is devoted to influence of the unit cell size, namely the number of the unit cells in the cross-section, on the static behavior of a beam in the bending loading conditions. The two configurations of the sandwich beams were considered for the sake of comparison of their behavior under the same loading conditions: (i) the sandwich beam with the cross-section that is constant along the beam's length, which consists of the two faces while the core is made of the unit cell with the two square openings and (ii) the sandwich beams with the cross-section that changes periodically along the beam's length – one cross section is full, while the other has square openings
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