Vibration properties and transverse shear characteristics of multibody molded beetle elytron plates

Abstract

This study utilized cantilever experiments to investigate the vibration properties of multibody molded beetle elytron plates (BEPs), which is a type of biomimetic sandwich plate inspired by beetle elytra; the corresponding shear characteristics were further revealed by a finite element method (FEM). The following results were obtained: (1) Experimental results suggest that the maximum displacement response of the BEPs was about 25% less than that of a honeycomb plate with almost the same first natural frequency, which indicates that a BEP with reasonable structural parameters has the potential to replace a honeycomb plate to achieve better vibration performance; (2) The trabecular structure not only enhanced the shear stiffness of the core layer in column areas but also the skins in the honeycomb wall areas, thus changing the distribution of the shear force in the different components and improving the mechanical performances of the BEP; and (3) Although this enhancement effect from trabeculae was not uniform, the average shear force proportion of the skins (or core structure) in the entire BEP structure was very close to that of the honeycomb plate. Therefore, the shear calculation assumption used for honeycomb plates is still applicable in the BEP. The results provide an experimental basis for the design and application of BEPs and inspiration for the development of related products in vibrational environments.