Elastodynamic Green's functions for sandwich panels with aluminum foam core and transversely isotropic face sheets using potential functions method

Abstract

Green's functions of stress and displacement due to wave propagation in a sandwich panel consisting of transversely isotropic face-sheets and aluminum foam core are developed in the present paper. Dynamic partial differential equations of equilibrium for the considered face-sheets and core are expressed in cylindrical coordinates (r, θ, z), and converted into two separate equations using two unknown potential functions. Then, by writing the potential functions as Fourier series in the circumferential direction and using Hankel transform in the radial direction, an analytical solution to the potential functions in Hankel transformed space is developed. Using the boundary conditions and continuity of the problem as well as the place of application of harmonic forces, Green's functions for displacements and stresses in the frequency domain are derived using Hankel's inverse integral transform. These functions are expressed as complex integrals and calculated numerically. To verify the methodology and results, a comparison study is performed for particular cases showing a high level of the accuracy. Green's functions obtained from this paper will give information about the loading models or materials causing the maximum normal stress, shear stress, vertical and radial displacements. In addition, based on the results, with an increase in the core thickness compared to that of face-sheets in a Sandwich panel, an increment in Green's functions of stress and displacement is observed in both real and imaginary parts.