• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.211-224
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• 2022

Multi-objective optimization was conducted to obtain the optimal configuration of a composite sandwich structure with honeycomb-foam hybrid core subjected to underwater shock waves, which can fulfill the demand for light weight and energy efficient design of structures against underwater blast. Effects of structural parameters on the dynamic response of the sandwich structures subjected to underwater shock waves were analyzed numerically, from which the correlations of different parameters to the dynamic response were determined. Multi-objective optimization of the structure subjected to underwater shock waves of which the initial pressure is 30 MPa was conducted based on surrogate modelling method and genetic algorithm. Moreover, optimization results of the sandwich structure subjected to underwater shock waves with different initial pressures were compared. The research can guide the optimal design of composite sandwich structures subjected to underwater shock waves.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.234-237
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• 2001

In this study, efforts were made to understand the propagation of electromagnetic wave through the foam core sandwich structure by the analytical model. Foam core sandwich structure is composed of glass/epoxy composite skins and foam core. Transmittance and reflectance of the arbitrary linearly polarized incident TEM waves through the unidirectional composites, foam and foam core sandwich structures were determined as functions of thickness, fiber orientation of composites, incident angle and polarization angle by the analytical model. From the results of the analysis, the general tendency of transmittance and reflectance of electromagnetic wave through composites, foam and foam core sandwich structures was obtained.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.169-188
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• 2001

This note presents the main results of an experimental investigation into the mechanical behaviour of a composite sandwich conceived as a lightweight material for naval engineering applications. The sandwich structure is formed by a three-dimensional glass fibre/polymer matrix fabric with transverse piles interconnecting the skins; the core is filled with a polymer matrix/glass microspheres syntactic foam; additional Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastics extra-skins are laminated on the external facings of the filled fabric. The main features of the experimental tests on syntactic foam, skins and sandwich panels are presented and discussed, with focus on both in-plane and out-of-plane responses. This work is part of a broader research investigation aimed at a complete characterisation, both experimental and numerical, of the complex mechanical behaviour of this composite sandwich.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.50-61
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• 2007

The structural stiffness, strength and stability on the bodyshell and floor structures of the Korean Low Floor Bus composed of laminate, sandwich panels and metal reinforced frame were evaluated. The laminate composite panel and facesheet of sandwich panel were made of WR580/NF4000 glass fabric/epoxy laminate, while aluminum honeycomb or balsa was applied to the core materials of the sandwich panel. A finite element analysis was used to verify the basic design requirements of the bodyshell and the floor structure. The use of aluminum reinforced frame and honeycomb core was beneficial for weight saving and structural performance. The symmetry of the outer and inner facesheet thickness of sandwich panels did not affect the structural integrity. The structural strength of the panels was evaluated using Von-Mises criterion for metal structures and total laminate approach criterion for composite structures. All stress component of the bodyshell and floor structures were safely located below the failure stresses. The total laminate approach is recommended to predict the failure of hybrid sandwich composite structures at the stage of the basic design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.461-477
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• 2016

Steel-concrete-steel (SCS) sandwich composite wall has been proposed for building and offshore constructions. An ultra-lightweight cement composite with density1380 kg/m3 and compressive strength up to 60 MPa is used as core material and inter-locking J-hook connectors are welded on the steel face plates to achieve the composite action. This paper presents the numerical models using nonlinear finite element analysis to investigate the load displacement behavior of SCS sandwich walls subjected to axial compression. The results obtained from finite element analysis are verified against the test results to establish its accuracy in predicting load-displacement curves, maximum resistance and failure modes of the sandwich walls. The studies show that the inter-locking J-hook connectors are subjected to tension force due to the lateral expansion of cement composite core under compression. This signifies the important role of the interlocking effect of J-hook connectors in preventing tensile separation of the steel face plates so that the local buckling of steel face plates is prevented.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.513-543
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• 2016

Third order shear deformation theory is used to evaluate electro-elastic solution of a sandwich plate with considering functionally graded (FG) core and composite face sheets made of piezoelectric layers. The plate is resting on the Pasternak foundation and subjected to normal pressure. Short circuited condition is applied on the top and bottom of piezoelectric layers. The governing differential equations of the system can be derived using Hamilton's principle and Maxwell's equation. The Navier's type solution for a sandwich rectangular thick plate with all edges simply supported is used. The numerical results are presented in terms of varying the parameters of the problem such as two elastic foundation parameters, thickness ratio ($h_p/2h$), and power law index on the dimensionless deflection, critical buckling load, electric potential function, and the natural frequency of sandwich rectangular thick plate. The results show that the dimensionless natural frequency and critical buckling load diminish with an increase in the power law index, and vice versa for dimensionless deflection and electrical potential function, because of the sandwich thick plate with considering FG core becomes more flexible; while these results are reverse for thickness ratio.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.132-137
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• 2007

This paper explains compressive behaviors of sandwich composite laminates with adhesively bonded patches. The sandwich composite laminate is used for a train carbody structure and is of an aluminum honeycomb core and CF1263 woven fabric carbon/epoxy faces. The sandwich composite laminates were damaged by low velocity impact. The damaged sandwich composite laminate was repaired using scarf repair method. Then, the strength restoration of it was assessed by compressive test. From the test, it could be known that the compressive strength was restored up to 91% of undamaged one.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.5
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• pp.611-622
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• 2021

Composite material-due to low density-causes weight savings, which results in lower fuel consumption of transport vehicles. The aim of the research was to change the existing base-plate of the aluminum airplane container with the composite sandwich plate in order to reduce the weight of the containers of cargo aircrafts. The newly constructed sandwich plate consists of aluminum honeycomb core and composite face-sheets. The face-sheets consist of glass or carbon or hybrid fiber layers. The orientations of the fibers in the face-sheets were 0°, 90° and ±45°. Multi-objective optimization method was elaborated for the newly constructed sandwich plates. Based on the design aim, the importance of the objective functions (weight and cost of sandwich plates) was the same (50%). During the optimization nine design constraints were considered: stiffness, deflection, facing stress, core shear stress, skin stress, plate buckling, shear crimping, skin wrinkling, intracell buckling. The design variables were core thickness and number of layers of the face-sheets. During the optimization both the Weighted Normalized Method of the Excel Solver and the Genetic Algorithm Solver of Matlab software were applied. The mechanical properties of composite face-sheets were calculated by Laminator software according to the Classical Lamination Plate Theory and Tsai-Hill failure criteria. The main added-value of the study is that the multi-objective optimization method was elaborated for the newly constructed sandwich structures. It was confirmed that the optimal new composite sandwich construction-due to weight savings and lower fuel consumption of cargo aircrafts - is more advantageous than conventional all-aluminum container.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.289-306
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• 2003

A series of tests was conducted to study the behaviour of steel-composite sandwich beams under low velocity hard impact. Damage characteristic and performance of sandwich beams with different spacing of shear connector were evaluated under impact loading. Thin steel plates were used as top and bottom skins of the sandwich beams and plain concrete was used as the core material. Shear connectors were provided by welding of angle sections on steel plates. The sandwich beams were impacted at their midpoint by a hemi-spherical nose shaped projectile dropped from various heights. Strains on steel plates were measured to study the effects of impact velocity or impact momentum on the performance of sandwich beams. Spacing of shear connectors is found to have significant effects on the impact response of the beams.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.467-482
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• 2022

One of the major failure modes in composite sandwich structures is the separation between skins and core. In this study, the effect of employing foam filled composite corrugated core on the skin/core debonding (resistance to separation between skin and core) is investigated both experimentally and numerically. To this aim, triangular corrugated core specimens are manufactured and compared with reference specimens only made of PVC foam core in terms of skin/core debonding under bending loading. The corrugated composite laminates are fabricated using the hand layup method. Also, the Vacuumed Infusion Process (VIP) is employed to join the skins to the core with greater quality. Utilizing an End Notched Shear (ENS) fixture, three point bending tests are performed on the manufactured sandwich composite panels. The results reveal that the resistance to separation capacity and flexural stiffness of sandwich composite has been increased about 170% and 76%, respectively by using a triangular corrugated core. The Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) with appropriate cohesive law in ABAQUS finite element software is used to model the progressive face/core interfaces debonding the difference between experimental and numerical results in predicting the maximum born load before the skin/core separation is about 6 % in simple core specimens and 3% in triangular corrugated core specimens.