An equivalent model for sandwich panel with double-directional trapezoidal corrugated core

A novel sandwich panel with double-directional corrugated core is proposed in this paper. This complex-corrugated core makes the conventional detailed finite element analysis of large structures a tough work. Thus, an equivalent homogeneous method is proposed, the key of which is to obtain the equivalent property of this novel structure. The equivalent elastic modulus considering the effect of geometrical parameters is analytically derived and verified by finite element method. Besides, equivalent shear modulus and Poisson’s ratios are obtained by finite element method. Three-dimensional detailed and equivalent models are established for further validation of this equivalent homogeneous method. Results show that elastic modulus predicted by analytical formulas is in good agreement with that by finite element method no matter how geometrical parameters change. It has been proved that stretching deformation is dominating in thickness direction, and only corrugation along loading direction can bear the load. The proposed novel sandwich structure owns better mechanical property than the conventional one with single-corrugated core. The result by equivalent model agrees well with that by detailed model, which means that this equivalent homogeneous method can well predict the macroscopic property of this novel structure.