Failure prediction of in-plane loaded sandwich beams with core junctions

The paper concerns local effects that occur in the vicinity of junctions between different cores in sandwich beams subjected to in-plane axial loading. A numerical model which takes geometrical and material-wise non-linear behaviour into account is used to examine the stress and strain fields around core junctions. Prediction of the failure location and the failure load is carried out numerically based on principal stress and principal strain criteria. Initiation of the failure in the compliant core in the vicinity of the core junction is predicted and verified by the performed experimental studies.