Vibration assessment of dual core sandwich beam with a biomimetic lamellar honeycomb core and MWCNT reinforced facesheets

Abstract

The usage of sandwich structures has been increasing in the field of defense, transportation, and aerospace applications due to the many advantages like, thickness to mass ratio, high bending stiffness, and strength. In this present work, the vibration assessment of the dual-core sandwich beam with biomimetic core and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced composite face layers has been performed. The lamellar honeycomb (LHC) core is a biomimetic design developed here from the pistachio shell structure and manufactured by 3D printing process. The mechanical characteristics of biomimetic core are measured using an alternative dynamic technique and impulse excitation test was used to assess the material properties of MWCNT composite laminates. Using finite element software, a numerical model is created for a composite dual-core sandwich beam containing MWCNTs and a biomimetic core. The developed numerical model is validated with experimental and available literature results in terms of natural frequencies and it shows good agreements. Additionally, parametric studies are performed to investigate the natural frequencies of MWCNT composite dual-core sandwich beam with biomimetic cores for ply orientation angles, aspect ratio, and support conditions. The MWCNT reinforcement in the facesheets and LHC core enhances the structural performance and stiffness of the laminated composite dual-core sandwich beam. This research will provide the valuable insights to engineers and scientists for the construction of large capacity ships and race boat structures.

Keywords:

• Biomimetic lamellar core
• 3D printing
• dual-core sandwich beam
• MWCNT composite laminates
• vibration performance
• finite element model

Acknowledgments

We thank the Advanced Vibration Laboratory and Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, Vellore Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu, India, for carrying out the research work.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest.