Free Vibration and Buckling Analyses of Balsa Core Sandwich Composite Plates With Fiber Metal Laminate Facesheets Using the Generalized Differential Quadrature Method

Abstract

There is significant potential for natural materials to replace conventional materials as the primary components in sandwich structures. Utilizing these natural alternatives during the manufacturing process can substantially reduce carbon emissions while enhancing material characteristics such as recyclability and renewability. This study examines the free vibration and buckling behaviors of balsa core sandwich composite plates with fiber metal laminate facesheets. The plate's kinematics are assumed to adhere to classical plate theory. After deriving the coupled equations of motion and buckling, the generalized differential quadrature method is employed to numerically solve these problems. The precision and convergence of the numerical model are validated by comparing the results obtained using the present method with those in existing literature. The current model shows an average agreement of over 97% with the reference models. An extensive analysis is then conducted to assess the effects of balsa core thickness, fiber orientation angles, the number of aluminum layers, boundary conditions, and aspect ratios on natural frequencies and buckling loads. It has been observed that among these parameters, the aspect ratio, core thickness, and boundary conditions are the most influential factors on natural frequencies and buckling loads. The results indicate that with the appropriate design of the balsa core thickness and the hybrid composite layers on the top and bottom surfaces, the sandwich structure exhibits superior mechanical and dynamic properties.