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Printed in Gnat Britain. PergFmm Press plc
K. H. I-IA
Centre for Building Studies, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G lM8
Abstract-Many finite element models have been proposed for the analysis of sandwich plates. In general,
these elements can be classified into two broad streams. The first is based on the assumed filament
approach, and the second on the assumed-stress hybrid approach. Within each stream, the characteristics
of the elements vary greatly in terms of the formulation complexity, accuracy and applicability. An
overview is given of the state-of-the-art finite element analysis applied to sandwich plate structures.
397
398 K. H. HA
These material parameters can be derived for any plates of isotropic facings. The various degrees of
configuration of sandwich construction (see, for approximation are classified below to facilitate later
example, [2, 9). reference.
1. General assumptions. These are common to
The type of nodal degrees of freedom
most formulations: (a) the transverse deflection is
Simple finite elements, possessing only the basic constant across the thickness; and (b) perfect bonding
geometrical nodal degrees of freedom (e.g. mid-plane between layers (the effects of ‘elastic interlayer slips’
translations and section rotations which are easily on sandwich beam-columns were discussed by Fazio
transformed) are suitable for the analysis of three- et a1.[5]).
dimensional systems composed of panels meeting 2. Materialproperties. Materials for the facing and
at an angle, e.g. folded plates, and panelized core can be: (a) isotropic; (b) orthotropic; or (c)
construction. Finite element models with additional anisotropic.
degrees of freedom such as curvatures, higher order 3. Stress distribution in facing section. (a) Thin
derivatives of displacements or shear strains are facing theory: the face is treated as a solid membrane,
therefore more suitable for the analysis of flat plates i.e. constant a,, by, Tag. (b) Thick facing theory: the
or shells. Also, these elements can be very accurate, face is treated as a classical thin plate to allow for
particularly when interlaminar shear stresses are of stretching and local bending, i.e. linear distribution of
special interest. Q,, aY, rxY.(c) All five StreSS components o,, au, txy,
Txz3 tyl are defined, and are often allowed to vary
Special problems
across the layer thickness.
Since interlaminar shear stresses are continuous 4. Stress distribution in the core section. (a) Flexible
across layers, they should not be evaluated using an core: constant transverse shear stresses T,,, Tag. (b)
individual layer’s elastic constants, but rather by Stiff core: similar to 3(c) above.
other means, such as equilibrium consideration, or 5. Displacement variation. The approximations so
by using higher order assumed-stress elements. A far are concerned with individual layer behaviour.
different problem, involving ‘concentrated’ forces, Since the layers are bonded together, certain quan-
where the local transverse shear stresses are discon- tities such as interlaminar shear stresses and displace-
tinuous, can also be tackled by more sophisticated ments are continuous across layers. This, combined
elements. with the need to enforce strain compatibility within
An additional complication arises in the case of the layers (as required in the displacement finite
sandwich construction with unsymmetrical layers, element formulation), necessitates an assumed kin-
of which half-sandwich is the simplest type, where ematic deformation mode for the plate section. (a)
bending and in-plane stretching are coupled Linear variation (Fig. 1): the normal remains straight
(although such coupling tends to reduce the plate across the entire cross-section of the plate, but not
effective stiffness, other considerations may prevail). necessarily perpendicular to the middle plane. (b)
In finite element analysis, this coupling must be Piece-wise linear variation with partial continuity
included at the formulation stage, since a simple (Fig. 2). (c) Piece-wise linear variation with full
superposition of the bending and stretching continuity (Fig. 3). (d) Quadratic or cubic variation
behaviours is invalid for this case. to allow for warping of the cross-section.
In general, finite element solutions for transverse The discontinuity of the inplane displacements at
shear stresses and edge reactions are less accurate the layer interface shown in Fig. 2 arises from the
than those for deflections and moments; this is neglect of transverse shear deformations in the stiff
particularly true in the displacement formulation of layers. In addition, if the small displacement u* in the
sandwich and Mindlin plate elements. stiff layers is considered then we have the so-called
The specification of boundary conditions for many thick facing theory [i.e. assumption 3(b)], otherwise
refined elements can be complicated because of the the theory is for thin facings [i.e. assumption 3(a)].
numerous degrees of freedom assigned across the This discussion also illustrates the interdependency
plate thickness. For sandwich construction with rigid between the various assumptions.
edge inserts or stiffeners, compatibility requires
special consideration. It is unfortunate that develop-
ers of finite element models rarely address these
practical matters.
l-5I
b!!3
Assumptions in sandwich plate formulations
z
The variety of assumptions used in sandwich plate
formulation can be confusing. Obviously, the more uo -
sophisticated formulations make fewer assumptions
at the cost of more complexity and analysis-effort.
A paper by Cook [4] investigates the effects of _TW,X
some of these assumptions for three-layer sandwich Fig. 1. Linear displacement variation.
Finite element analysis of sandwich plates 399
Fig. 2. Piece-wise linear displacement with partial continuity. w(x, y, z) = w(x, Y), (2)
by Cook [55] were found to produce spurious is, perhaps, necessary in order to match the variety of
zero energy modes. Overall buckling analysis was requirements in practical design situations.
carried out by Cook [56] and Luo [57]. The simplest The simple elements will suffice for symmetric
rectangular elements, containing 9 and 11 stress three-layer sandwich construction of flexible core
parameters in combination with linear edge displace- and thin facings. Construction with multiple thin
ments, without zero energy mode, were presented by stiff faces and cores possessing similar stiffnesses
Fazio et al. [58]. can be transformed to standard three-lay& con-
All the elements previously mentioned, apart from struction by means of equivalent stiffnesses [671.
the elements of [55] which are essentially for homo- When interlaminar stresses are of prime consider-
geneous plates, art! for three-layer symmetric sand- ation, the three-dimensional formulation should be
wich plates with thin facings and flexible core considered.
[combination 2(b), 3(a), 4(a), 5(a) and 6(b)]. A Major emphasis has been given to the displace-
three-layer sandwich element with thick facings was ment-based and hybrid stress-based elements in
developed by Kraus [59] by su~rimposing thin facing this review. However, one should be aware that
action with local bending in the faces [combination alternative formulation approaches exist, which can
2(b), 3(b), 4(a) and 5(b)]. The nodal degrees of provide certain specific advantages. As examples,
freedom are then the deflection, its slopes and normal Gellert (681 used mixed/hybrid formulation, whereas
rotations. Haas and Lee [69] used assumed strain formulation,
The first application of hybrid formulation to the to develop locking-free composite plate and shell
general class of thick laminated plates was by Mau ef elements.
al. [60], who developed a four-node element where Other aspects pertaining to sandwich construction
transverse shear stresses were assumed to be constant and amenable to numerical treatment have not
span-wise but allowed to vary parabolically within received much attention. Among these, one may list:
individual layers with full interlaminar continuity and constitutive relations for core and facing materials;
the laminate surface traction-free [combination 2(c), Iocal instability; delamination due to thermal or
3(c), 4(b), 5(c), 6(a) and 6(c)]. The number of degrees hu~dity effects; influence of stiffeners; loss of bond;
of freedom per node is 2(n + 1) + 1 (where n is the creep, etc. Perhaps it is along these directions that
nutnber of layers), consisting of a transverse dis- future developments will take place.
placement and in-plane displacements at the layers’
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