Analysis of crack kinking in foam core sandwich beams

The crack kink angle and the steady state crack location of the core crack in sandwich beams are predicted by using the analytical formulation of energy release rates associated with core cracking in a double cantilever sandwich beam. The predicted analytical results are compared with experimental results available in the literature. It is demonstrated that the present analysis is in good agreement with overall crack kinking behavior in foam core sandwich beams. Finally, the effect of residual thermal stresses in sandwich beams on crack kinking is discussed using the present analytical method.