Optimum design of metallic corrugated core sandwich panels subjected to blast loads

Recently, the naval industry has continued to develop innovative lightweigh t structural concepts with the purpose of seeking alternative replacements for conventional plate-beam metallic structures in selected areas of ships. This study investigated the optimum design of metallic corrugated core san dwich panels subjected to blast loads by using a combined algorithm, the Fe asible Direction Method (FDM) coupled with the Backtrack Program Method (BP M), in which the corrugation leg, corrugation angle, face sheet thickness, core thickness and corrugation pitch are selected as design variables, and the axial compression, bending and buckling constraints and the side constr aints of the manufacturing limitations on the sizes are considered. A corru gated core sandwich panel model in the combatant deckhouse of a naval ship is adopted in the optimum study. The results show that the corrugation leg, corrugation angle and core thickness are most important for the core compo nent, and that the corrugation leg and face sheet thickness are most import ant for the face sheet component. The significance of the design varibles i s discussed in detail. Optimization results may provide a useful reference for designers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.