Laterally supported sandwich panels subjected to large deflections: Part 2: FE analyses and model validation

Finite element (FE) models are used for predicting the global behavior of simply supported sandwich panels fixed by bolts on the two longitudinal edges or on all their four edges. The panels are subjected to transversal distributed loads and develop large deflections. Two finite element techniques are employed: (a) utilizing effective (equivalent) continuum solid elements for the core and plate elements for the face sheets and (b) utilizing plate elements of an equivalent three-layer laminate. In the first part of this project, discussed in a companion paper, the test set-up details were presented along with the experimental results. This second part of the work presents the procedure for estimating the panel–bolt bearing stiffness, the FE analysis procedure developed to simulate the behavior of the tested panels and the validation of the numerical models. A good correlation was observed between experimental and numerical results for the displacements of the panels and the shear loads at the attachment points. The results obtained demonstrated that the proposed two-dimensional FE approach yields a good trade off between the level of accuracy and computational efficiency.