Free vibration and axial compression of all-metallic cylindrical and truncated conical sandwich shells with corrugated cores

Abstract

All-metallic sandwich-walled cylindrical and conical structures for aerospace applications often require simultaneous excellent vibration and load-carrying capacities. In the present study, the free vibration and axial compression behaviors of cylindrical and truncated conical sandwich shells with corrugated cores are investigated using a combined experimental and numerical approach. Excellent agreement between experimental measurements and finite element simulations for representative vibration and axial compression characteristics is achieved. Parametric studies based on the response surface model are subsequently performed to quantify the influence of key geometrical parameters on vibration and axial compression performance. A multi-functional collaborative design to meet the requirement of high load-bearing capacity subjected to the constraint of low natural frequency is also carried out, which demonstrates the unique advantages of the novel sandwich-walled shells for aeronautical and astronautical applications.