Transient hydroelastic analysis of sandwich beams subjected to slamming in water

•Hydroelastic analysis of sandwich beam is considered.•The beam is subjected to water slamming.•Higher order shear and normal deformation theory is used to model the beam.•Coupled fluid–structure finite element model is developed.•Failure analysis of the beam is carried out.

This work deals with the transient hydroelastic analysis of a sandwich beam which represents a boat hull. The beam is subjected to slamming pressure while it enters into water with constant vertically downward velocity. A coupled hydroelastic finite element model is developed using higher order shear and normal deformation theories for the faces and the core of the beam and the velocity potential theory for the fluid. Transient responses of the beam for transverse deflection and stresses are studied. Dynamic failure analysis has been carried out to investigate the initiation and cause of the failure of the beam due to slamming load.