• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.6
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• pp.721-733
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• 2018

The modal frequency responses of functionally graded (FG) sandwich doubly curved shell panels are investigated using a higher-order finite element formulation. The system of equations of the panel structure derived using Hamilton's principle for the evaluation of natural frequencies. The present shell panel model is discretised using the isoparametric Lagrangian element (nine nodes and nine degrees of freedom per node). An in-house MATLAB code is prepared using higher-order kinematics in association with the finite element scheme for the calculation of modal values. The stability of the opted numerical vibration frequency solutions for the various shell geometries i.e., single and doubly curved FG sandwich structure are proven via the convergence test. Further, close conformance of the finite element frequency solutions for the FG sandwich structures is found when compared with the published theoretical predictions (numerical, analytical and 3D elasticity solutions). Subsequently, appropriate numerical examples are solved pertaining to various design factors (curvature ratio, core-face thickness ratio, aspect ratio, support conditions, power-law index and sandwich symmetry type) those have the significant influence on the free vibration modal data of the FG sandwich curved structure.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.547-570
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• 2023

In the present work, a comparative study has been carried out between power, exponential, and sigmoidal sandwich FGM plates for free vibration conditions under hygro-thermal conditions. Rules of mixture is used to determine effective material properties across the thickness for power-law and sigmoid sandwich FGM plates. Exponential law is used to plot effective material properties for exponentially graded sandwich FGM plates. Temperature and moisture dependent material properties were used during the analysis. Free vibration analysis is carried out using recently proposed finite element based HOZT. Present formulation satisfies interlayer transverse stress continuity conditions at interfaces and transverse shear stress-free conditions at the plate's top and bottom surfaces. The present model is free from any penalty or post-processing requirements. Several new results are reported in the present work, especially for unsymmetric sandwich FGM plates and exponential and sigmoidal sandwich FGM plates.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.975-999
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• 2016

This work investigates a thermomechanical bending analysis of functionally graded sandwich plates by proposing a novel quasi-3D type higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT). The mathematical model introduces only 5 variables as the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT). Unlike the conventional HSDT, the present one presents a novel displacement field which includes undetermined integral variables. The mechanical properties of functionally graded layers of the plate are supposed to change in the thickness direction according to a power law distribution. The core layer is still homogeneous and made of an isotropic ceramic material. The governing equations for the thermomechanical bending investigation are obtained through the principle of virtual work and solved via Navier-type method. Interesting results are determined and compared with quasi-3D and 2D HSDTs. The influences of functionally graded material (FGM) layer thickness, power law index, layer thickness ratio, thickness ratio and aspect ratio on the deflections and stresses of functionally graded sandwich plates are discussed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2020

Sandwich composite wall consists of concrete core attached by two external steel faceplates. It combines the advantage of steel and concrete. The appropriate composite action between steel faceplate and concrete core is achieved by using adequate mechanical connectors. This research studied the compressive behavior of the sandwich composite walls using steel trusses to bond the steel faceplates to concrete infill. Four short specimens with different wall width and thickness of steel faceplate were designed and tested under axial compression. The test results were comprehensively evaluated in terms of failure modes, load versus axial and lateral deformation responses, resistance, stiffness, ductility, strength index, and strain distribution. The test results showed that all specimens exhibited high resistance and good ductility. Truss connectors offer better restraint to walls with thinner faceplates and smaller wall width. In addition, increasing faceplate thickness is more effective in improving the ultimate resistance and axial stiffness of the wall.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.593-603
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• 2022

The critical buckling temperature rise of a newly proposed piezoelectrically active sandwich plate (ASP) has been investigated in this work. This structure includes a porous polymeric layer integrated between two piezoelectric nanocomposite layers. The piezoelectric material is made of a passive polymeric material that is activated by lead-free nanowires (NWs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) embedded inside the matrix. In both nanocomposite layers and porous core, functional graded (FG) patterns have been considered for the distributions of ZnO NWs and voids, respectively. By adopting a higher-order theory of plates, the governing equations of thermal buckling are obtained. This set of equations is then treated using an extended mesh-free solution. The effects of plate dimensions, porosity states, and the nanowire parameters have been investigated on the critical buckling temperature rises of the proposed lightweight ASPs with different boundary conditions. The results disclose that the use of porosities in the core and/or mixing ZnO NWs in the face sheets substantially arise the critical buckling temperatures of the newly proposed active sandwich plates.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.35-43
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• 2011

This study examined the structural behaviors of foam insulated concrete sandwich panels subjected to uniform pressure. Finite element models were used to simulate the detailed shear resistance of connectors and the nonlinear behaviors of concrete, foam and rebar components. The models were then validated using data from static tests performed at the University of Missouri. Both composite and non-composite action had a significant effect on the response of the foam insulated concrete sandwich panels, indicating that the simulated shear tie resistance should indeed be incorporated in numerical analyses. The modeling approach used here conveniently simulated the structural behaviors during all loading stages (elastic, yielding, ultimate and post-failure) and was compatible with the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Code and existing design practices. The results of this study will therefore provide useful guidelines for the analysis and design of foam insulated sandwich panels under both static and dynamic loadings.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2017

To control the stochastic vibration of a vibration-sensitive instrument supported on a beam, the beam is designed as a sandwich structure with magneto-rheological visco-elastomer (MRVE) core. The MRVE has dynamic properties such as stiffness and damping adjustable by applied magnetic fields. To achieve better vibration control effectiveness, the optimal bounded parametric control for the MRVE sandwich beam with supported mass under stochastic and deterministic support motion excitations is proposed, and the stochastic and shock vibration suppression capability of the optimally controlled beam with multi-mode coupling is studied. The dynamic behavior of MRVE core is described by the visco-elastic Kelvin-Voigt model with a controllable parameter dependent on applied magnetic fields, and the parameter is considered as an active bounded control. The partial differential equations for horizontal and vertical coupling motions of the sandwich beam are obtained and converted into the multi-mode coupling vibration equations with the bounded nonlinear parametric control according to the Galerkin method. The vibration equations and corresponding performance index construct the optimal bounded parametric control problem. Then the dynamical programming equation for the control problem is derived based on the dynamical programming principle. The optimal bounded parametric control law is obtained by solving the programming equation with the bounded control constraint. The controlled vibration responses of the MRVE sandwich beam under stochastic and shock excitations are obtained by substituting the optimal bounded control into the vibration equations and solving them. The further remarkable vibration suppression capability of the optimal bounded control compared with the passive control and the influence of the control parameters on the stochastic vibration suppression effectiveness are illustrated with numerical results. The proposed optimal bounded parametric control strategy is applicable to smart visco-elastic composite structures under deterministic and stochastic excitations for improving vibration control effectiveness.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.449-460
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• 2021

Flexoelectricity is an interesting materials' property that is more touchable in small scales. This property beside the sandwich structures placed in the center of scientists' attention due to their extraordinary effects on the mechanical properties. Furthermore, in the passage of decades, more elaborated sandwich structures took into consideration results from using honeycomb core. This kind of structure, inspiring from honeycomb core, provides more stiffness to weight ratio, which plays a crucial role in different industries. In this paper, based on the Love-Kirchhoff's hypothesis, Hamilton's principle, modified couple stress theory and Fourier series analytical method, equations of motion for a sandwich plate containing a honeycomb core integrated by two face-sheets have derived and solved analytically. The equations of both face sheets have derived by flexoelectricity consideration. Moreover, it should be noticed that the whole structure rests on the visco-Pasternak foundation. Conducting current research provided an acceptable and throughout study based on flexoelectricity to address the effect of materials' characteristics, length-scale parameter, aspect, and thickness ratios and boundary conditions on the natural frequency of honeycomb sandwich plates. Also, based on the presented figures and tables, there is a close agreement between previous studies and recent work. Due to the high ratio of strength to weight, current model analyzing is capable of taking into account for different vehicles' manufacturing in a high range of industries.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 1992

A sandwich element is a special Hybrid structural form of the composite construction, which is consisted of three main parts : thin, stiff and relatively high density faces separated by a thick, light, and weaker core material. In a sandwich construction, the shear deformation of the faces. Therefore, in the calculation of the bending stiffness, the shear effect should be included. In this paper, the minimum weight is selected as an object function, as the weight critical structures are usually composed of these kind of construction. To obtain the minimum weight of sandwich panel, the principle of minimum potential energy is used and as for the design constraints, the allowable bending stress of face material, the allowable shear stress of core material, the allowable value of panel deflection and the wrinkling stress of faces are adopted, as well as the different boundary conditions. For the engineering purpose of sandwich panel design, the results are tabulated, which are calculated by using the nonlinear optimization technique SUMT.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2023

The use of functionally graded materials in applications involving severe thermal gradients is quickly gaining acceptance in the composite mechanics community, the aerospace and aircraft industry. In the present study, a refined sandwich plate model is applied to study the free vibration analysis of porous functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich plates with various distribution rate of porosity. Two types of common FG sandwich plates are considered. The first sandwich plate is composed of two FG material (FGM) face sheets and a homogeneous ceramic or metal core. The second one consists of two homogeneous fully metal and ceramic face sheets at the top and bottom, respectively, and a FGM core. The displacement field of the present theory is chosen based on nonlinear variations in the in-plane displacements through the thickness of the sandwich plate. The number of unknowns and equations of motion of the present theory is reduced and hence makes them simple to use. In the analysis, the equation of motion for simply supported sandwich plates is obtained using Hamilton's principle. In order to present the effect of the variation of the porosity distribution on the dynamic behavior of the FGM sandwich plates, new mixtures are proposed which take into account different rate of porosity distribution between the ceramic and the metal. The present method is applicable to study the dynamic behavior of FGM plates and sandwich plates. The frequencies of two kinds of FGM sandwich structures are analyzed and discussed. Several numerical results have been compared with the ones available in the literature.