CURVED SANDWICH PANELS SUBJECTED TO TEMPERATURE-GRADIENT AND MECHANICAL LOADS

The results of a detailed study of the nonlinear response of curved sa ndwich panels with composite face sheets, subjected to a temperature g radient through the thickness combined with mechanical loadings, are p resented. The analysis is based on a first-order shear-deformation San ders-Budiansky-type theory, including the effects of large displacemen ts, moderate rotations, transverse shear deformation, and laminated an isotropic material behavior. A mixed formulation is used with the fund amental unknowns consisting of the generalized displacements and the s tress resultants of the panel. The nonlinear displacements, strain ene rgy, principal strains, transverse shear stresses, transverse shear st rain energy density, and their hierarchical sensitivity coefficients a re evaluated. The hierarchical sensitivity coefficients measure the se nsitivity of the nonlinear response to variations in the panel paramet ers, the effective properties of-the face sheet layers and the core, a nd the micromechanical parameters. Numerical results are presented for cylindrical panels subjected to combined pressure loading, edge short ening or extension, edge shear, and a temperature gradient through the thickness. The results show the effects of variations in the loading and the panel aspect ratio, on the nonlinear response, and its sensiti vity to changes in the various panel, effective layer, and micromechan ical parameters.