An efficient general solution for the wrinkling load of thick sandwich shells

This contribution presents the development of a very efficient analytical model to predict the critical load, which leads to local stability failure (wrinkling) in sandwich structures. The analytical model assumes an orthotropic face layer and a thick transversely isotropic core, leading to a plane strain state in the sandwich buckling pattern. The commonly used core materials (foams and honeycombs) can be described with good accuracy within this model. The main features of this new solution axe, that it considers general loading conditions of the orthotropic face layer as well as in-plane deformations of the core. The results of FE calculations and the analytical model are in very good agreement, although the analytical model comprises a very low computational effort.