Free vibration analysis of a laminated honeycomb sandwich panel: a suggested analytical solution and a numerical validation

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the free vibration response of a laminated honeycomb sandwich panels (LHSP) for aerospace applications. Higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT) was simplified for the dynamic analysis of LHSP. Furthermore, the effects of honeycomb parameters on the value of natural frequency (NF) of vibration were explored.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies HSDT to the analysis of composite LHSP to derive four vibration differential equations of motion and solve it to find the NF of vibration. Two analytical models (Nayak and Meunier models) were selected from literature for comparison of the NF of vibration. In addition, a numerical model was built by using ABAQUS and the results were compared. Furthermore, parametric studies were conducted to explore the effect of honeycomb parameters on the value of the NF of vibration.

Findings

The present model is successful in simplifying HSDT for the analysis of LHSP. The first five natural frequencies of vibration were calculated analytically and numerically. In the parametric study, increasing core height or young’s modulus or changing laminate layup will increase the value of NF of vibration. Furthermore, increasing plate constraint (using clamped edge boundary condition) will increase the value of NF of vibrations.

Research limitations/implications

The current analysis is suitable for all-composite symmetric LHSP. However, for isotropic or non-symmetric materials, minor modifications might be adopted.

Originality/value

The application of simplified HSDT to the analysis of LHSP is one of the important values of this research. The other is the successful and complete dynamic analysis of all-composite LHSP.

Citation

Al-Khazraji, M.S., Jweeg, M.J. and Bakhy, S.H. (2024), "Free vibration analysis of a laminated honeycomb sandwich panel: a suggested analytical solution and a numerical validation", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 316-343. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-10-2021-0536