EVALUATION OF SANDWICH CORE MATERIALS FOR COMBINED MATERIAL AND ECOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE

Abstract

In engineering applications, sandwich structures are of high value due to their exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratios, strength, and structural efficiency. These benefits are primarily due to the unique combination of strong face sheets and a lightweight core material. The core material in a sandwich structure plays a crucial role in determining the overall mechanical behavior, especially under compressive loads. Studies were performed to analyses the compressive performance of different available core materials, to allow the identification of the optimal core material for static and dynamic loads. Besides the material performance the ecological footprint of the core materials was assessed and compared. The combined consideration allows the selection of the best material based under the combined consideration of lightweight and sustainability.