Static and dynamic experimental validation of analytical homogenization models for corrugated core sandwich panels

A typical procedure to speed up simulations involving corrugated core sandwich panels consists in replacing the complex shaped core with an equivalent homogeneous layer. The properties of the equivalent material, usually orthotropic, can be determined by means of FE-based techniques, experimental tests or analytical formulations. In particular, analytical methodologies have been deeply investigated in the last decades in the literature, leading to a general formulation valid for every kind of corrugations. The aim of this paper is to perform an experimental campaign on some available sinusoidal corrugated core panels. Moreover, the mentioned general formulation is extended and it is used to build homogenized models. An investigation is carried out on the deviation of the corrugation from the idealized sinusoidal shape and its effects on equivalent parameters. Results from the measurements, in terms of static and dynamic behaviour, will be compared to numerical data obtained from the homogenized models, assuming either an idealized sinusoid or the real corrugation. The importance of accurately representing the core shape is proved by the greater accuracy provided by the general formulation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.