VAM-based reduced plate model for composite sandwich folded plate (CSFP) with V-shaped folded cores

Abstract The composite sandwich folded plate (CSFP) not only has excellent mechanical properties but is multi-functional, owing to the internal transparent design. To investigate its effective performance, the original CSFP is reduced to constitutive modeling over the unit cell (providing the orthotropic elastic constants) and global analysis over the two-dimensional reduced-order plate model (2D-RPM) based on the variational asymptotic method, and transformed to a Reissner–Mindlin model for practical application. The accuracy and effectiveness of 2D-RPM is verified by comparison with the static and dynamic results of three-dimensional direct numerical simulation (3D-DNS) under different boundary conditions. Furthermore, a parameter study is carried out to investigate the effects of layup configurations and core structural parameters (opening angle, core height, wall thickness, and forms of folded core) on the effective performance of the CSFP. It is concluded that the CSFP has the best balanced performance with a layup of ± 45 ° / 0 ° / 90 ° s and larger opening angle and wall thickness of the folded core, as well as a smaller Z-line length and height.