Nonlinear two-scale shell modeling of sandwiches with a comb-like core

In this paper a computational two-scale model for sandwich composites with a comb-like core structure is proposed. On the global scale the sandwich panel is modeled with homogenized finite shell elements, while on the local scale a representative volume element (RVE) describes the microstructure of the sandwich through the full thickness. The local model is implemented as a constitutive law for the shell elements on the global scale. As the material response is updated in each iteration step of a nonlinear simulation, local effects of nonlinearity such as face sheet buckling or plastic flow can be described by the model.