Finite Element Analysis of Bend Test of Sandwich Structures Using Strain Energy Based Homogenization Method

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present a simplified methodology for analysis of sandwich structures using the homogenization method. This methodology is based upon the strain energy criterion. Normally, sandwich structures are composed of hexagonal core and face sheets and a complete and complex hexagonal core is modeled for finite element (FE) structural analysis. In the present work, the hexagonal core is replaced by a simple equivalent volume for FE analysis. The properties of an equivalent volume were calculated by taking a single representative cell for the entire core structure and the analysis was performed to determine the effective elastic orthotropic modulus of the equivalent volume. Since each elemental cell of the hexagonal core repeats itself within the in-plane direction, periodic boundary conditions were applied to the single cell to obtain the more realistic values of effective modulus. A sandwich beam was then modeled using determined effective properties. 3D FE analysis of Three-and Four-Point Bend Tests (3PBT and 4PBT) for sandwich structures having an equivalent polypropylene honeycomb core and Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) composite face sheets are performed in the present study. The authenticity of the proposed methodology has been verified by comparing the simulation results with the experimental bend test results on hexagonal core sandwich beams.

Microwave Devices for Wearable Sensors and IoT

“…In this sense, the literature presents several studies about the optimization design of lightweight and robust structures for aerospace, naval, and industrial constructions, many of which are inspired by the internal biological structures of living organisms, such as animal bones, bamboo, beaks, and honeycombs [70][71][72]. In particular, honeycombs are widely recognized not only as lightweight and mechanically strong structures that are able to absorb external compressions and stretching but also as a good solution for minimizing insertion losses because of the low volume of the dielectric material, so they can therefore be exploited in many engineering fields [73,74].…”

Study on Flexural Behavior of Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic Sandwich Composites Using Liquid Thermoplastic Resin

“…Furthermore, an analysis on a composite sandwich structure was conducted using the strain-energy-based homogenization method. The bend test results for both analyses were compared with experimental data and were in good agreement [ 40 ].…”

Numerical Modelling of a Composite Sandwich Structure Having Non Metallic Honeycomb Core

“…The numerically determined orthotropic properties using Strain energy-based homogenization technique can be successfully used for generating an equivalent solid of a honeycomb core which ultimately can be used for performing 3PBT on sandwich panel to determine the deformation and stiffness of a sandwich panel. For producing representative volume element (RVE) of a core, only a single cell can be selected and homogenization technique instead of selecting a entire core cells can be utilized which will result in considerably reduced computational time and effort 3,7,11) . Gibson and Ashbay initially determine the formulae for detection of nine orthotropic properties for honeycomb materials with constant wall thickness followed by the number of revisions by 'Zhang and Ashbey' and 'Klintworth and Stronge' to include the double wall thickness for the out of plane values using homogenization techniques.…”