Analytical modeling and finite element simulation of the plastic collapse of sandwich beams with pin-reinforced foam cores

Analytical predictions are presented for the plastic collapse strength of lightweight sandwich beams having pin-reinforced foam cores that are loaded in 3-point bending. Both polymer and aluminum foam cores are considered, whilst the facesheet and the pins are made of either composite or metal. Four different failure modes are account for: metal facesheet yield or composite facesheet microbuckling, facesheet wrinkling, plastic shear of the core, and facesheet indentation beneath the loading rollers. A micromechanics-based model is developed and combined with the homogenization approach to calculate the effective properties of pin-reinforced foam cores. To calculate the elastic buckling strength of pin reinforcements, the pin-reinforced foam core is treated as assemblies of simply supported columns resting upon an elastic foundation. Minimum mass design of the sandwich is then obtained as a function of the prescribed structural load index, subjected to the constraint that none of the above failure modes occurs. Collapse mechanism maps are constructed and compared with the failure maps of foam-cored sandwich beams without pin reinforcements. Finite element simulations are carried out to verify the analytical model and to study the performance and failure mechanisms of the sandwich subject to loading types other than 3-point bending. The results demonstrate that the weaker the foam is, the more optimal the pin-reinforced foam core becomes, and that sandwich beams with pin-reinforced polymer foam cores are structurally more efficient than foam- or truss-cored sandwich beams.     

Design optimization of truss-cored sandwiches with homogenization

Lightweight metallic sandwich plates comprising periodic truss cores and solid facesheets are optimally designed against minimum weights. Constitutive models of the truss core are developed using homogenization techniques which, together with effective single-layer sandwich approaches, form the basis of a two-dimensional (2D) single-layer sandwich model. The 2D model is employed to simulate the mechanical behaviors of truss-cored sandwich panels having a variety of core topologies. The types of loading considered include bending, transverse shear and in-plane compression. The validities of the 2D model predictions are checked against direct FE simulations on three-dimensional (3D) truss core sandwich structures. Optimizations using the 2D sandwich model are subsequently performed to determine the minimum weights of truss-cored sandwiches subjected to various failure constraints: overall and local buckling, yielding and facesheet wrinkling. The performances of the optimized truss core sandwiches with 4-rod unit cell and solid truss members and pyramidal unit cell with hollow truss members are compared with benchmark lightweight structures such as honeycomb-cored sandwiches, tetrahedral core sandwiches and hat-stiffened single layer plates.     

Minimum weights of pressurized hollow sandwich cylinders with ultralight cellular cores

Long, open-ended, hollow sandwich cylinders with ultralightweight cellular cores are optimized under uniform internal pressure for minimum weight design. Five different core topologies are considered: Kagomé truss, single-layered pyramidal truss, double-layered pyramidal truss, single-layered corrugated core and double-layered corrugated core. The highly porous cellular materials are homogenized to obtain effective constitutive relations. Close-formed solutions are presented for the forces and stresses in individual structural members of the sandwich, which are then validated by finite element calculations. Optimization of the sandwich-walled hollow cylinder is achieved using a quadratic optimizer, subjected to the constraints that none of the following failure modes occurs: facesheet yielding; facesheet punch shearing (active only for truss-cored sandwiches); core member buckling; core member yielding. In comparison with hollow cylinders having solid walls, truss-core sandwich cylinders and single-layer corrugated core sandwich cylinders are found to have superior weight advantages, especially for more heavily loaded cases. With the consideration of both weight efficiency and failure modes, sandwich-walled hollow cylinders having Kagomé truss core with pyramidal sub-geometry have the best overall performance in comparison with other core topologies.     

泡沫铝夹芯梁四点弯曲性能试验研究

通过准静态四点弯曲试验对泡沫铝夹芯梁的弯曲力学性能进行了测试,研究了它的破坏过程、破坏形态和典型荷载-位移曲线,分析了芯层厚度和面层厚度等参数对其弯曲力学性能的影响。结果表明,泡沫铝夹芯梁四点弯曲破坏过程历经三个阶段,呈现三种失效模式:整体弯曲破坏、局部屈曲破坏以及整体屈曲破坏;芯层厚度和面层厚度对夹芯梁的弯曲承载力和吸能效果有明显影响;在本试验参数范围内,芯层厚度为25mm,面层厚度为0.4mm时,夹芯梁具有最优弯曲力学性能。     

点阵增强型复合材料夹层结构的力学性能实验与分析

采用真空导入成型工艺,制备出在面板与芯材界面上具有创新构型的点阵增强型复合材料夹层结构。对其面板拉伸性能、夹层结构剪切与平压性能进行了实验研究,得出点阵增强型复合材料夹层结构经树脂柱增强后,剪切与平压性能均得以提高的结论。对不同跨高比复合材料夹层结构开展了三点与四点弯曲实验,研究其典型受力破坏形态与机理。基于Eshelby等效夹杂原理,采用Mori-Tanaka方法求解了点阵增强型复合材料夹层结构经树脂柱增强后的剪切性能。利用经典夹层梁理论和非线性有限元模拟方法,预估了试件抗弯刚度与受弯极限承载力,理论分析与实验结果较吻合。     

Bi-functional optimization of actively cooled, pressurized hollow sandwich cylinders with prismatic cores

All metallic, hollow sandwich cylinders having ultralight two-dimensional (2D) prismatic cores are optimally designed for maximum thermo-mechanical performance at minimum mass. The heated cylinder is subjected to uniform internal pressure and actively cooled by forced air convection. The use of two different core topologies is exploited: square- and triangular-celled cores. The minimum mass design model is so defined that three failure modes are prevented: facesheet yielding, core member yielding, and core member buckling. The intersection-of-asymptotes method, in conjunction with the fin analogy model, is employed to build the optimization model for maximum heat transfer rate. A non-dimensional parameter is introduced to couple the two objectives—structural and thermal—in a single cost function. It is found that the geometry corresponding to maximum heat transfer rate is not unique, and square-celled core sandwich cylinders outperform those having triangular cells. The eight-layered sandwich cylinders with square cells have the best overall performance in comparison with other core topologies. Whilst a sandwich cylinder with shorter length is preferred for enhanced thermo-mechanical performance, the influence of the outer radius of the cylinder is rather weak.     

Sandwich column buckling – A hyperelastic formulation

The macro-buckling equations for a sandwich column are developed. A layer-wise Timoshenko beam displacement approximation is assumed. The constitutive relationships and equilibrium equations for the core and face sheets are derived using a consistent hyperelastic neo-Hookean formulation. The derivations in this paper are consistent with that of Haringx’s and Reissner’s proposal for beam actions. The buckling formulation includes the axial deformation prior to buckling and the transverse shear deformation of the core and face sheets. The buckling equations derived agree with the equation of [Allen, H.G., 1969. Analysis and Design of Structural Sandwich Panels, Pergamon, Oxford] for thick faces but are also applicable to any ratio of face sheet to core thickness and material properties. The formulation is compared to experimental results for sandwich columns and shows good comparison except for very short columns. The formulation is also compared to the buckling experimental results for short rubber rods and also compared well. The formulation does not predict a shear buckling mode.     

撞击载荷下Nomex蜂窝夹芯梁的变形模式研究

本文研究了Nomex蜂窝夹芯结构在不同冲量下的变形模式和失效模式.实验采用子弹撞击的加载方式,对Nomex蜂窝夹芯梁施加大小不同的冲量,使用激光位移传感器测量每个试件后蒙皮的变形位移.分析了同芯层厚度,不同蒙皮厚度的Nomex蜂窝夹芯梁在不同冲量作用下抵抗变形的能力,以及冲量大小与蒙皮厚度对夹芯梁抵抗撞击能力的影响,计算分析了蒙皮与芯层的吸能性.实验结果表明:增加蒙皮的厚度能够改善夹芯梁在撞击荷载下抵抗变形的能力,在撞击过程中芯层吸收了50％左右的能量,且冲量越大,芯层吸收的能量越多.     

Response and Damage Tolerance of Composite Sandwich Structures under Low Velocity Impact

The deformation and failure response of composite sandwich beams and panels under low velocity impact was reviewed and discussed. Sandwich facesheet materials discussed are unidirectional and woven carbon/epoxy, and woven glass/vinylester composite laminates; sandwich core materials investigated include four types of closed cell PVC foams of various densities, and balsa wood. Sandwich beams were tested in an instrumented drop tower system under various energy levels, where load and strain histories and failure modes were recorded for the various types of beams. Peak loads predicted by spring-mass and energy balance models were in satisfactory agreement with experimental measurements. Failure patterns depend strongly on the impact energy levels and core properties. Failure modes observed include core indentation/cracking, facesheet buckling, delamination within the facesheet, and debonding between the facesheet and core. In the case of sandwich panels, it was shown that static and impact loads of the same magnitude produce very similar far-field deformations. The induced damage is localized and is lower for impact loading than for an equivalent static loading. The load history, predicted by a model based on the sinusoidal shape of the impact load pulse, was in agreement with experimental results. A finite element model was implemented to capture the full response of the panel indentation. The investigation of post impact behavior of sandwich structures shows that, although impact damage may not be readily visible, its effects on the residual mechanical properties of the structure can be quite detrimental.     

A blast-tolerant sandwich plate design with a polyurea interlayer

This paper presents a study of both conventional and modified sandwich plate designs subjected to blast loads. The conventional sandwich Design (1) consists of thin outer (loaded side) and inner facesheets made of fibrous laminates, separated by a layer of structural foam core. In the modified Design (2), a thin polyurea interlayer is inserted between the outer facesheet and the foam core. Comparisons of the two designs are made during a long time period of 5.0 ms, initiated by a pressure impulse lasting 0.05 ms applied to a single span of a continuous plate. In the initial response period the overall deflections are limited and significant foam core crushing is caused in the conventional design by the incident compression wave. This type of damage is much reduced in the modified design, by stiffening of the polyurea interlayer under shock compression, which provides support to the outer facesheet and alters propagation of stress waves into the foam core. This benefits the long term, bending response and leads to significant reductions in facesheet strains and overall deflection. The total kinetic energy of the modified sandwich plate is much lower than that of a conventionally designed plate, and so is the stored and dissipated strain energy. Similar reductions are found when the conventional and the enhanced sandwich plates have equal overall thickness or equal total mass.     

反倾层状岩体斜坡弯曲-拉裂两种失稳破坏之判据探讨

对反倾层状岩体斜坡弯曲-拉裂的失稳破坏判据,已有研究分别基于两种力学模型进行推导,即竖直压杆弹性屈曲稳定和平直梁弯折破坏模型,但对层间错动阻力及挠度产生附加弯矩等因素未加以考虑,不尽合理。在反倾斜坡岩层受力分析基础上,建立考虑了板侧层间错动阻力的下端嵌固、上端自由的斜置等厚弹性悬臂板梁模型,统一地通过瑞利-里兹能量方法,推导了弹性屈曲临界条件和嵌固端弯折破坏临界条件。实例计算及讨论表明,弹性屈曲判据适用于陡立岩层;而中-陡反倾岩层应主要为弯折破坏,但层间的力学性质对弯折临界判据值具有较大影响。     

轻质金属点阵夹层板热屈曲临界温度分析

本文针对均匀温度场下四边简支和四边固支金属点阵夹层板的临界热屈曲温度进行了求解和参数影响分析。将点阵夹芯等效为均匀连续体,并且将夹层板的剪切刚度近似为点阵夹芯的抗剪切刚度,忽略夹芯的抗弯刚度且认为夹层板主要由面板来提供抗弯刚度。对于无法获得解析解的四边固支条件,通过对未知变量进行双傅里叶展开的方法求解了Ressiner夹层板模型的临界屈曲温度,理论分析结果与有限元计算结果吻合良好。进一步分析了不同边界条件、点阵胞元构型、点阵材料相对密度、面板厚度等对临界屈曲温度的影响规律。     

高速颗粒流冲击下负泊松比力学超材料夹芯梁的动态响应及缓冲吸能机理

建立了颗粒流子弹发射有限元模型,利用离散元和有限元的联合模拟方法,研究了高速颗粒流冲击负泊松比内凹蜂窝夹芯梁的动态响应及缓冲吸能机理。分析了加载冲量、冲击角、芯材强度以及颗粒流子弹与面板间的摩擦力等因素对夹芯梁动态响应的影响。研究结果表明:夹芯梁在正向颗粒流子弹冲击载荷作用下表现为局部凹陷和整体弯曲的耦合变形模式,面内设计芯材因胞壁弯曲呈现局部内凹的变形模式,面外设计芯材因胞壁屈曲呈现局部褶皱的变形模式。在等面密度的条件下,采用面外设计的硬芯夹芯梁面板的跨中最大挠度比采用面内设计的软芯夹芯梁小,但初始冲击力峰值和冲击力整体水平较高,冲击力响应时间较短。夹芯梁前后面板的跨中最大挠度与冲击载荷近似呈对数线性递增关系。与正向冲击相比,斜冲击下夹芯梁的变形模式具有非对称性,局部凹陷程度减小;在颗粒流子弹不同冲击角度作用下,夹芯梁前后面板的跨中最大挠度、初始冲击力峰值以及传递到夹芯梁的动能和动量占比随冲击角度的增大而减小,而颗粒流子弹与夹芯梁面板间的摩擦因数对夹芯梁的动态响应无显著影响。     

Free vibration of functionally graded sandwich plates using four-variable refined plate theory

This paper uses the four-variable refined plate theory (RPT) for the free vibration analysis of functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich rectangular plates. Unlike other theories, there are only four unknown functions involved, as compared to five in other shear deformation theories. The theory presented is variationally consistent and strongly similar to the classical plate theory in many aspects. It does not require the shear correction factor, and gives rise to the transverse shear stress variation so that the transverse shear stresses vary parabolically across the thickness to satisfy free surface conditions for the shear stress. Two common types of FGM sandwich plates are considered, namely, the sandwich with the FGM facesheet and the homogeneous core and the sandwich with the homogeneous facesheet and the FGM core. The equation of motion for the FGM sandwich plates is obtained based on Hamilton’s principle. The closed form solutions are obtained by using the Navier technique. The fundamental frequencies are found by solving the eigenvalue problems. The validity of the theory is shown by comparing the present results with those of the classical, the first-order, and the other higher-order theories. The proposed theory is accurate and simple in solving the free vibration behavior of the FGM sandwich plates.     

Free vibration of functionally graded sandwich plates using four-variable refined plate theory

This paper uses the four-variable refined plate theory (RPT) for the free vibration analysis of functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich rectangular plates.Unlike other theories, there are only four unknown functions involved, as compared to five in other shear deformation theories. The theory presented is variationally consistent and strongly similar to the classical plate theory in many aspects. It does not require the shear correction factor, and gives rise to the transverse shear stress variation so that the transverse shear stresses vary parabolically across the thickness to satisfy free surface conditions for the shear stress. Two common types of FGM sandwich plates are considered, namely, the sandwich with the FGM facesheet and the homogeneous core and the sandwich with the homogeneous facesheet and the FGM core. The equation of motion for the FGM sandwich plates is obtained based on Hamilton's principle. The closed form solutions are obtained by using the Navier technique. The fundamental frequencies are found by solving the eigenvalue problems. The validity of the theory is shown by comparing the present results with those of the classical, the first-order, and the other higher-ordex theories. The proposed theory is accurate and simple in solving the free vibration behavior of the FGM sandwich plates.     

Theoretical analysis of the deformation of SMP sandwich beam in flexure

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) can have a large frozen strain but with a very small recovery stiffness in comparison with shape memory metals or ceramics. To provide more deployable stresses for the application of actuators, sandwich beams consisting of a SMP core and two thin metallic skins were considered. The packaging behaviors of two types of SMP sandwich beams, aluminum/SMP/aluminum and steel/SMP/steel, were discussed. Due to the high compliance of SMP core on packaging condition that the testing temperature is above the activation temperature of the material, buckling and post-buckling are the essential deformation mechanisms of SMP sandwich beams under bending. Theoretical solutions were derived in studying such non-linear behaviors, including the initiation of critical buckling, post-buckling response, and final failure modes. Systematic parameter’s analyses, e.g., buckling half-wavelength, amplitude, location of the neutral-strain surface in different packaging curvatures, were also presented.     

Design of metallic textile core sandwich panels

Metallic sandwich panels with textile cores have been analyzed subject to combined bending and shear and then designed for minimum weight. Basic results for the weight benefits relative to solid plates are presented, with emphasis on restricted optimizations that assure robustness (non-catastrophic failure) and acceptable thinness. Select numerical simulations are used to check the analytical results and to explore the role of strain hardening beyond failure initiation. Comparisons are made with competing concepts, especially honeycomb and truss core systems. It is demonstrated that all three systems have essentially equivalent performance. The influence on the design of a concentrated compressive stress that might crush the core has been explored and found to produce relatively small effect over the stress range of practical interest. “Angle ply” cores with members in the ±45° orientation are found to be near optimal for all combinations of bending, shear and compression.     

Structural performance of near-optimal sandwich panels with corrugated cores

An experimental and computational study of the bending response of steel sandwich panels with corrugated cores in both transverse and longitudinal loading orientations has been performed. Panel designs were chosen on the basis of failure mechanism maps, constructed using analytic models for failure initiation. The assessment affirms that the analytic models provide accurate predictions when failure initiation is controlled by yielding. However, discrepancies arise when failure initiation is governed by other mechanisms. One difficulty is related to the sensitivity of the buckling loads to the rotational constraints of the nodes, as well as to fabrication imperfections. The second relates to the compressive stresses beneath the loading platen. To address these deficiencies, existing models for core failure have been expanded. The new results have been validated by experimental measurements and finite element simulations. Limit loads have also been examined and found to be sensitive to the failure mechanism. When face yielding predominates, appreciable hardening follows the initial non-linearity, rendering robustness. Conversely, for designs controlled by buckling (either elastic or plastic) failure initiation is immediately followed by softening. The implication is that, when robustness is a key requirement, designs within the face failure domain are preferred.     

Influence of imperfections on the performance of metal foam core sandwich panels

Sandwich panels and beams are used in bending and compression dominated components. The retention of their load capacity in the presence of imperfections is a central consideration. To address this issue, sandwich beams with metallic foam cores have been tested in four-point bending following the introduction of imperfections, created by impressing the face sheets. Limit load expressions for face yielding, core shear, and indentation failure have been developed and used to construct failure mechanism maps. From these maps, specimen designs were determined. Imperfections were introduced by indenting to varying penetrations. The indents were located on both the compressive and tensile side of bending configurations. Experimental measurements of the load/deflection response are obtained and compared with finite element results.     

高速冲击载荷下梯度金属泡沫夹芯梁的动态响应与失效

采用泡沫弹冲击加载实验对梯度金属泡沫夹芯梁结构开展了不同冲击强度下的动态响应和失效研究,分析了由三种不同密度泡沫铝组成的等面密度的五种不同梯度的夹芯结构在夹支边界条件下的抗高速冲击性能,结合三点弯曲实验,研究梯度效应对夹芯结构抗冲击性能的影响。研究表明：密度梯度对结构的失效过程和失效模式有着明显的影响,且夹芯梁结构的初始失效模式对结构整体响应和主要的能量吸收机制起着主导作用;当冲击条件不足以使得均质芯材发生压缩时,均质及负梯度夹芯结构初始失效模式为整体弯曲变形,低强度芯层位于前两层的梯度结构随着冲击强度的变化出现不同程度的局部芯层压缩;当冲击强度较低时,梯度结构通过丰富的局部失效表现出明显优于均质结构的抗冲击变形能力;当冲击强度大于临界值时,均质结构具有更好的抗冲击变形能力。通过合理地设计密度梯度实现逐层压缩吸能,能够有效的提升防护结构的抗冲击性能。