Structurally graded core junctions in sandwich beams: fatigue loading conditions

This paper is devoted to a comparative study of the performance of sandwich beams with conventional and structurally graded core junctions under fatigue loading conditions. An experimental investigation of the fatigue behaviour of the sandwich beams was performed using a three-point bending loading scheme. A rigorous statistical treatment of the experimental data has shown that structurally graded core junctions perform much better than conventional butt junctions. Thus, the fatigue life of the sandwich beams with structurally graded core junctions was up to 30% higher than the fatigue life of the sandwich beams with the conventional junction design.