Assessment of models for analysis of singly-curved sandwich panels

Overall behaviour of a simply-supported singly-curved shallow sandwich panel under lateral loading is considered. Three types of linear models — general shell, shallow shell and curved plate theories — are employed to describe a static overall behaviour of such a panel. The shallow panel with a constant curvature loaded by a uniform pressure is used as a trial case to assess the accuracy of the models. A nonlinear model for a panel of arbitrary shape under an arbitrary loading is developed on the basis of the curved plate theory. A closed-form nonlinear analytic solution for the panel of constant curvature under a uniform lateral pressure is obtained, and its accuracy is estimated. An experimental investigation of a sandwich beam under a uniform lateral loading is carried out, and the data obtained are compared with the theoretical calculations.