Free vibration analysis of integrated and non-integrated corrugated core sandwich panels reinforced with weft-knitted fabrics

Abstract

This study deals with free vibration analysis of integrated and non-integrated corrugated core sandwich panels with rectangular core together with free vibration analysis of integrated corrugated core sandwich panels with hat-type and triangle core. Bonding of the core to skin in non-integrated sandwich panels was achieved by resin, while in the integrated sandwich panels that were reinforced with 3-D weft-knitted fabric bonding was achieved using yarns and resin. Results revealed that the integrated structures have higher natural frequency than the non-integrated structures. It was also found that the natural frequency of the triangular-core sandwich panels and the rectangular-core sandwich panels was the highest and the lowest, respectively. It was established that weft-knitting fabric technology is suitable for the production of both integrated and non-integrated corrugated core sandwich panels with a high degree of similarities in terms of geometry, weight, and characteristics.