Sandwich Beam in Four-Point Bending Test: Experiment and Numerical Models

Abstract

The numerical modeling of lightweight sandwich beam in four-point bending, using combination of finite elements by help of two modeling approaches 2-D and 3-D models is presented. The mechanical results of hot-dipped zinc steel face layers and polyurethane foam core, obtained from comprehensive material testing program, were used as input data in order to implement the finite element analysis by the commercial ANSYS code. The material nonlinearities, most pronounced in the core, as well as geometric nonlinearities are included in the models. As was shown an advantage of plane stress condition can be applied in numerical models in one-way bending.