Analytical modeling of sandwich beams with functionally graded core

This study investigates several available sandwich beam theories for their suitability of application to one-dimensional sandwich plates with functionally graded core. Two equivalent single-layer theories based on assumed displacements, a higher-order theory, and the Fourier-Galerkin method are compared. The results are also compared with the finite element analysis. The core of the sandwich panel is functionally graded such that the density, and hence its stiffness, vary through the thickness. The variation of core Young's modulus is represented by a differentiable function in the thickness coordinate, but the Poisson's ratio is kept constant. A very good agreement is found among the Fourier-Galerkin method, the higher-order theory, and the finite element analysis.