An Introduction to Sandwich Structures (Student Edition) (Lecture Notes 41517)

http://www.mek.dtu.dk,

ISBN: 978-87-70786-75-1

This text is intended to cover some of the most important aspects of the theory on load carrying sandwich panels. In that respect it is very similar to the now almost classical texts from the 1960s by Allen and Plantema. I have tried, however, to be more practical and toemphasise problem solving. Thus, this text covers less of the purely theoretical side of the topic, fewer special cases, but on the other hand contains more examples and solved problems. The problems are there not only to provide a useful engineering tool, but are also sometimes included for the purpose that they clarify a physical behaviour. In that respect it is important not only to study the theory but to do so along with solving the problems.

This book has fourteen separate chapters in which the theory of structural sandwich construction is evolved. The chapters should preferably be read in the sequence they appear and although some chapters are more or less stand-alone much of the theory in each new chapter is based on the preceding chapters.

This book started out as an attempt to tidy up some old lecture notes, add to them and prepare material for an extended course on the topic of structural sandwich constructions. 1 guess that is how most books start out. I had the opportunity to read calmly through a lot of collected material and properly learn the topic myself. There is no teacher like having to prepare material for teaching a subject. Most parts of this text have been written and compiled during my stay at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Auckland, New Zealand, between May 1991 and July 1992.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering would like to acknowledge Professor Dan Zenkert for permission to re-print and use this compendium in the course 41517 Stiffened Plates and Sandwich Composites.