An Analytical Technique for Optimization of Mechanical Performance of Foam Core Sandwich Structures

Abstract

Sandwich structures are widely used, especially in areas where the performance of conventional materials is simply not adequate. Sandwich components achieve the same structural performance as conventional materials with weight savings of up to 75 %. They are basically made from two thin skins (faces) and a lightweight thicker core. Their structural, physical, and mechanical characteristics can be tailored based on service requirements by selection of different materials and manufacturing processes. In this study, the geometry and property of each separate component is utilized to the structural advantage of the whole assembly. Although Lagrangian method has been widely applied in other engineering disciplines, it has received less attention for optimization of sandwich components. The Lagrangian method is therefore introduced and expanded to find solutions for multipurpose design problems. This new optimization approach will enable us to find analytical solutions for complicated design problems which were conventionally solved by utilizing graphical methods. This paper aims to present a generic optimization method which can be used in the variety of applications in this field.