Collapse mechanism maps for the hollow pyramidal core of a sandwich panel under transverse shear

The finite element method has been used to develop collapse mechanism maps for the shear response of sandwich panels with a stainless steel core comprising hollow struts. The core topology comprises either vertical tubes or inclined tubes in a pyramidal arrangement. The dependence of the elastic and plastic buckling modes upon core geometry is determined, and optimal geometric designs are obtained as a function of core density. For the hollow pyramidal core, strength depends primarily upon the relative density (rho) over bar of the core with a weak dependence upon tube slenderness. At (rho) over bar below about 3%, the tubes of the pyramidal core buckle plastically and the peak shear strength scales linearly with (rho) over bar. In contrast, at (rho) over bar above 3%, the tubes do not buckle and a stable shear response is observed. The predictions of the current study are in excellent agreement with previous measurements on the shear strength of the hollow pyramidal core, and suggest that this core topology is attractive from the perspectives of both core strength and energy absorption. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.