Paper number 608

SANDWICH BEAMS WITH MID-PLANE ASYMMETRY SUBJECTED TO LATERAL LOADS - ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION

Nihar R Satapathy, and Dr. Jack R Vinson.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE-19716, USA

Summary

The equations with which to analyze, design and optimize sandwich beams, which involve mid-plane asymmetry, are presented. Both classical beam theory and a refined theory involving transverse shear deformation are discussed. Explicit solutions for the beam subjected to a uniform lateral load for the boundary conditions of both ends clamped; both ends simply supported and a cantilevered beam are given. To obtain minimum weight, the means to select each face thickness and the core depth are given for a given material system. In order to choose the face materials to achieve a minimum weight beam, a factor of merit is defined. Various materials are then compared.

Keywords

sandwich beams, minimum weight optimization, mid-plane asymmetry.