Multi-dimensional deformation tests of sandwich plates

Sandwich-type plates are widely used in present technical structures. A variety of special sandwich theories and composite laminated plate theories (CLT, FSDT, HSDT) are available for calculating plate deflections. Since the problem of assessing these theories still exists, a new test apparatus for multilayered composite and sandwich plates was developed. Different types of sandwich plates were used in quasistatic multidimensional deformation tests. Deflections and thickness reductions are compared with the theoretical results obtained by sandwich theories, CLT-, FSDT-, HSDT-, and 3D-solutions.Submitted to the 10th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials, Riga, April 20–23, 1998.Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 33, No. 5, pp. 612–625, September–October, 1997.