Sandwich Beam-Columns with Interlayer Slips

Elasticity solution for sandwich beam-columns bonded with non-rigid adhesives is presented. The solution satisfies the equilibrium equations of the face and core elements, the compatibility equations of stresses and strains at the interfaces, and the relevant boundary conditions. To investigate the effects of adhesive stiffnesses on the responses of sandwich beam-columns, parametric studies are conducted. The numerical results show that the adhesive stiffness, up to a certain level, has a strong effect on the beam deflection and the column buckling load. Beyond this level, the usual assumption of perfect bonding used in classical theories is quite acceptable. An answer to what constitutes perfect bonding is found in terms of the ratio of the core stiffness to the adhesive stiffness. To facilitate the appication of the present solution, simple expressions are presented for the maximum normal force in facings and interlayer shear flux of sandwich beams subjected to various loading types.