Consistent Higher-Order Dynamic Equations for Soft-Core Sandwich Beams

Abstract

The consistent higher-order dynamic equations and the corresponding continuity and boundary conditions for sandwich beams with a transversely flexible core are derived, with nonlinear acceleration fields in the core taken into account. A discretized formulation based on an efficient implicit finite difference scheme is presented and numerically validated. The higher-order analysis reveals that the dynamic magnitudes of normal stresses between the face sheets and the core increase dramatically at the boundaries of a sandwich beam, whereas the values remain at the level of response to quasi-static loading through the span, including the points of application of localized loads. The present work provides an accurate and efficient tool for the analysis of sandwich beams with a transversely flexible core subject to dynamic loads of arbitrary type, including the practical case of localized dynamic excitation.