Author(s)

G. Belingardi, M. P. Cavatorta & L. Peroni

Abstract

The paper describes the experimental testing and FE modelling of sandwich beams under bending loads. The faces are made of glass fibres in epoxy resin. The core is a polymeric foam, with a net of resin walls perpendicular to the faces having a pitch of about 30 mm. Flexural tests were run on the face and core materials and the sandwich structure. For the sandwich, failure occurred due to core shear cracking. Simulation of flexural tests was run up to formation of the first crack within the core. 2D and 3D models of the sandwich beam were implemented. At first, models were validated by comparison with Pagano analytical elasticity theory and Swanson experimental and FEM data. Then, FE models were run to simulate the flexural test on the face and core materials and the sandwich. Co

Keywords