Date of Award

5-2006

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Program

Engineering

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Major Professor

Hui, David

Second Advisor

Herrington, Paul

Third Advisor

Hall, Carsie

Abstract

The load-deflection behavior of a US Army Corps of Engineers available sandwich plates in three-point bending with glass phenolic facings and balsa wood core is being investigated under room and elevated temperatures. Test data on bending rigidity, critical interfacial failure (skin-to-core interface) and shear stress are collected and analyzed. The load-deflection curves plots up to the point of failure initiation are being studied. The effects of the span and the radius of the loading nose on the bending modulus and strength are examined systematically. Theoretical calculations from a modified beam theory of sandwich structure are applied and the effect of the shearing rigidity of the core is studied, and the propensity with respect to the span is also investigated. A finite element model is developed to study the flexural and stress analysis. Based on the results, this thesis proposes a desirable analytical approach that correlates theory with experiment as defined below.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

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