Single- and double-layer aluminum corrugated core sandwiches under quasi-static and dynamic loadings

The crushing of single- and double-layer zig-zag trapezoidal corrugated core sandwiches was investigated experimentally and numerically at quasi-static and dynamic rates. The buckling stress of sandwiches increased when the rate increased from quasi-static to dynamic. The increased buckling stresses were ascribed to the micro-inertial effects, which altered the buckling mode of the core from three plastic hinges to higher number of plastic hinge formations. The initial buckling stress was numerically shown to be imperfection sensitive when the imperfection size was comparable with the buckling length. The numerical buckling stresses of zig-zag and straight corrugated cores were similar, while higher inertial effects were found in triangular corrugated core.