Novel Analytical Methods for Sandwich Core Termination Features

Sandwich structures often offer the most structurally efficient and lowest cost solution for airframe structures. However, for sandwich panels to interface with substructure and accommodate penetrations, the core must be ramped down to a solid laminate region. Designing and verifying the structural integrity of these core termination regions is challenging due to the complexity of the physics involved and the lack of suitable design tools. In Phase I of this project, the Advatech Team will develop and demonstrate the components needed and create a proof-of-concept for a design environment for designing and analyzing the core termination regions in aero-structure sandwich panels with the intent to develop an approach for, and determine the feasibility of, global and local level analyses of core termination regions. The design environment will be structured as a modular, multi-scale and expandable tool. It will employ a modular architecture using modern software development best practices and standards. In this fashion, it will be possible in the future to replace individual modules with updated capabilities without a major software redevelopment effort. The design environment will incorporate FEMAP / NASTRAN and ESRD’s P-version StressCheck finite element codes; and eventually custom programs and applications needed to link the various modules.