Experimental investigation and simulation of 3D printed sandwich structures with novel core topologies under bending loads

Abstract In a range of applications, such as the automotive, aerospace, and shipbuilding sectors, where weight reduction is essential, sandwich structures are getting more popular. The performance of sandwich structures in bending can be enhanced by using lightweight core topologies. In this study, six different novel and new core topologies were designed with CATIA V5. Polylactic acid (PLA) sandwich structures with new core designs were produced using the fused deposition modeling (FDM) additive manufacturing method. In order to determine the mechanical characteristics of these six designed core topologies, three-point bending tests on sandwich structures were performed. The influence of core topology on the flexural characteristics of lightweight sandwich structures was investigated to appropriately choose and design the core topology of the sandwich structures to meet desired structural requirements. To evaluate the flexural behavior of sandwich structures, finite element simulation using ANSYS Workbench 2021 R2 was also performed. Both the experimental data and simulation were in good agreement and clearly showed that the sandwich structure with the triple bow core exhibited the highest mechanical properties. These results provide new perspectives on the investigation of the mechanical response of sandwich structures, which can be beneficial for many other industries and applications.