The bending and failure of sandwich structures with auxetic gradient cellular cores

We describe the bending and failure behaviour of polymorphic honeycomb topologies consisting of gradient variations of the horizontal rib length and cell internal across the surface of the cellular structures. The novel cores were used to manufacture sandwich beams subjected to three-point bending tests. Full-scale nonlinear Finite Element models were also developed to simulate the flexural and failure behaviour of the sandwich structures. Good agreement was observed between the experimental and FE model results. And the validated numerical model was then used to perform a parametric analysis on the influence of the gradient core geometry over the mechanical performance of the structures. It was found that the aspect ratio and the extent of gradient (i.e. the horizontal rib length growth rate or the internal angle increment) have a significant influence on the flexural properties of the sandwich panels with angle gradient cores.