Failure Mode Map for Foam Core Sandwich Panel with Composite Faces under Static Local Loading

Owing to their high specific strength and modulus, sandwich panels are being used in many structural applications. One of the most important aspects of design is predicting the failure load in different modes. Sandwich panels experience three major modes of failure under local loading; core shear, core compression (indentation), and face yielding. The mode of failure depends on material properties and geometry of structure. In this paper, sandwich panel higher order theory (SPHOT) was depicted for three point bending and then using this theory, a prediction of failure mode through a failure map was presented. Also, considering this failure map the load of failure was obtained. Results were verified by finite element solution obtained from ABAQUS® FEM software and some other theories.