Finite element modelling of sandwich shell structures-Application to a windscreen panel

Abstract

SUMMARY This paper presents a non‐isoparametric shell finite element, which is very easy to implement in a finite element solver, for modelling of sandwich multilayered structures with a viscoelastic core. The proposed shell finite element uses only the displacements at external faces and at interlayer interfaces. Linear and quadratic variations of the displacements are assumed in the transverse direction of each layer. Exact numerical integration of the elementary stiffness and mass matrices are carried out along the thickness direction of each layer to avoid generation of solid meshes. Hence, only a 2D finite element mesh of the midsurface of the sandwich is needed, facilitating the mesh generation task. The developed shell finite element was used to calculate natural frequencies and normal modes of a car's windscreen, and associated frequency response has been computed using a simplified modal solving approach, which reduces the memory size and computing time. The simplified modal approach takes into account the frequency dependence of the mechanical properties of the polymer core. Results obtained with the developed shell element are in good agreement with those obtained using 3D hexahedral solid elements (H20) available in I‐DEAS (Siemens PLM Software, Plano, TX, USA) and Nastran (Siemens PLM Software, Plano, TX, USA) software codes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.