A higher order theory for the non-linear analysis of thick sandwich beams

A higher order theory for the analysis of sandwich beams is presented. Within the theory applied here, the resulting transverse shear stress distribution remains constant and the transverse normal stress distribution is linear ol er the core thickness, whereas the displacement field is non-linear. For the face sheets a beam bending theory expanded by non-linear terms, taking the equilibrium equations on the deformed structure into account, is used. The established system of differential equations of first order is solved numerically leading to the transfer matrix of a sandwich beam section. A sandwich beam under four point bending is studied and the solution is compared to results obtained by the Finite Element Method (here MARC).