Geometrical nonlinear thermal response of sandwich panels with temperature dependent mechanical properties—Extended high-order approach

Abstract

The thermal and the thermo-mechanical responses of a sandwich panel with a compliant core are investigated within the framework of the extended high-order approach where the core properties are temperature dependent or independent. Loads schemes include thermal field within temperature working range simultaneous with in-plane compressive loads applied to the core only and to the face sheets and core in the form of the uniform end—shortening of edge of panel. The mathematical formulations use the extended high-order sandwich panel theory approach that takes into account the in-plane rigidity of the core and uses the deformation patterns of the high-order sandwich panel theory. The linear and nonlinear field equations along with the appropriate boundary conditions are presented. A numerical study is conducted, and it investigates the thermal response with temperature independent and temperature dependent mechanical properties of the core as well as the thermo-mechanical response due to in-plane compressive loads. The results include displacements, stress resultants, and stress at critical locations along the panel as well as equilibria curves. They reveal that, in general, the panel with temperature independent properties response remains almost linear while with temperature dependent ones it takes a general nonlinear response. The addition of an external mechanical load changes the response from a linear/nonlinear one that may be allowable stress controlled to a case where loss of stability occurs.