Advanced Composite Materials for the New World Vistas
Abstract
The study of mechanics of sandwich structures and a development of new and innovative structural concepts have been conducted in the course of the effort. In particular, our research was concerned with a development of Sanders'-type theory of cylindrical sandwich shells with different facing operating in hostile environment. This theory was further extended to elliptical shells. The effects of internal ribs located on the inner surface of the facings and the woven facing construction on the response of sandwich structures was studied. In particular, rib-reinforced facings were probably first suggested in the course of the present effort. These new structural concepts are important since woven facings can reduce the tendency to delamination, while rib-reinforced facing results in enhanced local strength and stiffness. Also, the effect of damage in the form of matrix cracks in the facings on the response and performance of sandwich panels was investigated. The similarity conditions for sandwich shells were formulated, jointly with Drs. Simitses, Song and Frostig. The study of a new concept of sandwich structures with truss-reinforced core (Z-fiber reinforced core) was undertaken. The latter design may prove attractive in applications where significant shear and off-axis loads are applied to the structures. Other subjects that were investigated include the evaluation of the shear correction coefficient for sandwich structures analyzed by the first-order theory. The latest effort was a development of an analytical model capable of predicting damping of sandwich structures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 19, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA398644
Entities
People
- Jack R. Vinson
Organizations
- University of Delaware