A numerical analysis approach for evaluating elastic constants of sandwich structures with various cores

This paper aims to employ the finite element analysis method (FEA) to derive equivalent stiffness properties of sandwich structures with various types of cores. The core may be composed of continuous or discrete structural components, different from conventional continuum cores and honeycomb core. For efficient analysis of its structural behaviour, the 3-D sandwich construction can be idealised as an equivalent 2-D orthotropic thick plate continuum. The proposed approach provides a rapid but accurate tool to assess the equivalent stiffness properties for the 2-D continuum. The present method is validated by comparing computational results with reported theoretical derivations. Finally the method is applied to a composite laminated circular-core sandwich panel, in order to demonstrate the versatility of this approach for complicated sandwich structures.