MATERIAL EFFICIENCY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF SANDWICH MATERIALS

摘要

Sandwich constructions are used since may decades for lightweight structures. Their economical advantages are vital for their potential in many applications. This paper presents an approach to compare sandwich material combinations based on their bending modulus, density and cost. The properties of sandwich material combinations are therefore shown in materials selection charts as a function of the ratio between skin thickness and sandwich height t/h. This enables a graphical comparison of the material efficiency of solid materials aid different sandwich material options. Furthermore a technique to balance the major targets of low cost and low weight is presented. For that purpose, the economical value of weight saving for the target application is accounted for in the materials selection charts. This allows to define besides the weight saving factors also cost saving factors, which are useful to determine the economical advantage of a sandwich material combination. The necessary cost effectiveness of sandwich material production processes resulting in an economical advantage of sandwich panels can be calculated.