Steel sandwich panels are being investigated for several decades because of their favourable strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. However, their application in shipbuilding is still limited since their response under fatigue loading is insufficiently explored. Recent literature demonstrated that the J-integral is convenient fatigue strength parameter for assessment of web-core steel sandwich panels. This paper uses the J-integral concept in the assessment of web-core panels filled with polyurethane (PUR) and Divinycell? foams of different densities. It is well known that adding a filling material increases flexural stiffness of the panel. The results obtained here show how low-density foam already significantly increases the fatigue life of a panel subjected to lateral fatigue loading. The paper outlines the possibility of multiplying panel's fatigue life several times, while negligibly increasing its mass.
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