On the Static Analysis of Sandwich Panels with Square Honeycomb Core

Abstract

*† ‡ § ** tatic analysis of sandwich panels with square honeycomb core is presented. The displacement field of the sandwich panel is obtained. The analysis of the panel is done using the finite element approach applied to the Classical Laminated Plate theory (CLPT), the First Order Shear Deformation theory (FSDT) and the Higher Order Shear Deformation Theory (HSDT). The constitutive behavior of a continuum equivalent to the core is obtained using Hohe’s approach which is a homogenization approach based on the strain energy equivalence between a body containing cellular structure and a continuum body. The results of the displacement field of the sandwich panel are then compared to results obtained from a highly detailed FEM created in ABAQUS ® in which the cell walls of the honeycomb core are modeled as shell elements, this comparison shows that the displacement results of the HSDT are in error of 7.6% when compared to the detailed ABAQUS ® model. An alternative procedure for calculating the constitutive behavior of the continuum equivalent to the square honeycomb was pursued here by creating detailed FEM of the unit cell of the square honeycomb using ABAQUS ® to detailed representative models and applying static loads to these models then obtaining the properties by means of the flexibility approach. Comparison between the equivalent strain energy approach and flexibility approach applied to detailed ABAQUS models of the unit cell of the square honeycomb proved the equivalent strain energy approach to be efficient. Simple formulas for calculating the different Elastic properties of equivalent continuum to the square honeycomb are introduced. S