Stress analysis of axially and thermally loaded discontinuous tile core sandwich with and without adhesive filled core gaps

An analytical study is performed to investigate the stress states in an axially and thermally loaded sandwich structure with a discontinuous ceramic tile core. General and simplified models are developed to determine stresses in the constituents of the sandwich structure with and without adhesive in the gaps between adjacent tiles. A general model that allows local bending of the face sheet and a simplified model which assumes uniform through-thickness stress distribution in the face sheets are developed. It is shown that the normal stress in the face sheet decreases when the gap is filled by adhesive, although the tile stress increases. The analytical model shows that normal and shear stresses at the face/core interface can be reduced by filling the gaps between tiles. Filled gaps also elevate the axial stiffness of the structure. Model results are verified by comparison to a previously developed analytical model and finite element analysis.