The effect of core geometry on flexural stiffness and transverse shear rigidity of weight‐wise identical corrugated core sandwich panels reinforced with 3D flat spacer knitted fabric

Abstract

AbstractThis article aims to evaluate the effect of core geometry on flexural stiffness and transverse shear rigidity of corrugated core sandwich panels both experimentally and numerically. Using vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) method, three composite sandwich panels reinforced with 3D weft knitted spacer fabric with rectangular, hat‐type (trapezoidal) and triangular cross‐sectional geometries were produced. In order to eliminate weight variation among the produced sandwich panel samples, the unit cell dimensions, core wall to skin angle, and the yarn count used to knit the core wall were carefully chosen. Results pointed to existence of statistically significant difference between the load‐carrying capacity and transverse shear rigidity in the direction of corrugation of the structures. It was concluded that triangular and rectangular structures have the highest and lowest load‐carrying capacity, transverse shear rigidity, and core shear modulus in the direction of corrugation, respectively.