Sandwich Panel With a Periodical and Graded Core

Abstract

This paper presents a technique for the production of graded sandwich cores. A significant failure mode of sandwich panels is the indentation of the foam core in regions at which local forces are introduced into the sandwich panel. The aim of this work is to synthesise a microstructure that can diminish this failure mode. By applying a rapid prototyping technique a periodic, open beam structure has been synthesised. Additionally the structure has been graded in the longitudinal direction by alternating over the beam diameter. The obtained structure was joined with aluminium face sheets to form a sandwich beam. The panel was subjected to a three point bending test and the results were compared to a finite element model.