Bending response of web-core sandwich beams

This paper presents a new analytical solution for the bending response of a web-core sandwich beam. The beam is a transverse cut from the sandwich plate. The method is based on the plane frame analysis, where the response of the beam is divided into local and global components. The Clebsch's method is used to calculate the deflection of the face plates. The validation of the plane frame method is carried out with FE-analyses based on the shell element formulation. Also a comparison is made with the method based on homogenized beam. Periodic stress distributions in the face plates are revealed with the plane frame analysis and are supported by the FE-analysis. The existing methods based on homogenized beam are not able to predict these stresses. The plane frame analysis can benefit the development of the theory related to web-core sandwich plate. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.