Experimental and numerical investigations of five-layered trapezoidal beams

This paper is devoted to orthotropic sandwich beams that consist of five layers: two thin facings made of steel sheets and the core made of three corrugated layers. The obtained experimental results are compared for some geometrical parameters with numerical analysis (FEA) and theoretical solutions to a problem of elastic three point-bending of a beam. Laser welding was used for bonding together thin-walled corrugated and flat sheets. The small diameter of welding spot guarantees that material is not overheated and can be welded quickly. The presented results include experimental and numerical (FEA – SolidWorks) solutions and sensitivity analysis of a beam.