Light weighting is one of techniques considered importantly at designing the mechanical structure using the light weight material. This study deals with aluminum-6061 and aluminum foam which stood in the spotlight of light weight material. And the finite element method for safety evaluation has been carried out in order to prevent from the damage and fatigue fracture due to crack appearing at the mechanical structure with this material. The simulation analysis as MT(middle tension) test was carried out by using the core of aluminum foam and the material laminated with sandwich structure of Al-6061. The mechanical structure is linked together with various parts and designed as the material with hole or crack. So, MT test is one of the test methods to evaluate the fatigue fracture characteristic of material and the strength inside material with the center crack by applying the load to the part connected pin. The real material strength is thought to be evaluated through the study result of MT test analysis.

Recently, the need of weight reduction has been required in automobile industry. In this paper, we aim to evaluate the composite sandwich panel to substitute original steel structure of commercial vehicle. The compressive and drum-peel tests were conducted to consider core materials and resin system of the sandwich panel. Based on the test, we decided the core reinforcement and matrix materials of the panel. As a result, the composite panel were composed of aluminum profile, glass fiber prepreg and aluminum honeycomb. We also confirmed the weight reduction ratio and structural safety compared to prior steel structure components by bending test and FEM simulation.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate to the practicing engineers, how to apply the advanced composite materials theory to the road structures. For general construction material used, there is certain theoretical limit in sizes. For super road structure construction, the reduction in panel weight is the first step to take in order to break such size limits. METHODS: For a typical road structures panel, both concrete and advanced composite sandwich panels are considered. The concrete panel is treated as a special orthotropic plate. RESULTS: All types of advanced composite sandwich panels are considered as a self-weights less than one tenth of that of concrete panel. The concrete panel is treated as a special orthotropic plate to obtain more accurate result. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced composite sandwich panels are considered as a self-weights less than one tenth (10%) of that of concrete panel, with deflections less than that of the concrete panel. This conclusion gives good guide line for design of the light weight of road structures.

This study deals with an enhanced assumed strain (EAS) three-dimensional element for free vibration analysis of laminated composite and sandwich structures. The three-dimensional finite element (FE) formulation based on the EAS method for composite structures shows excellence from the standpoints of computational efficiency, especially for distorted element shapes. Using the EAS FE formulation developed for this study, the effects of side-to-thickness ratios, aspect ratios and ply orientations on the natural frequency are studied and compared with the available elasticity solutions and other plate theories. The numerical results obtained are in good agreement with those reported by other investigators. The new approach works well for the numerical experiments tested, especially for complex structures such as sandwich plates with laminated composite faces.

본 연구에서는 실선에 적용된 알루미늄 하니콤 샌드위치 판 (AHSP)을 저자가 제안한 심재의 형상이 피라미드인 알루미늄 샌드위치 판의 구조적 특성 및 진동특성을 검토해 보았다. 알루미늄 피라미드 샌드위치 판(APSP)의 기초 자료로 쓰일 수 있게 심재의 각도변화, 높이변화 및 면재와 심재의 두께변화에 따른 구조적 특성을 검토한 결과 APSP가 강도 및 강성에서 우수함을 보였으며, 질량대비 큰 강성 때문에 고유진동수도 다소 크게 평가되었다.

본 논문에서 알루미늄 하니콤 샌드위치판 구조(AHSP)의 특성에 대해 해석한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1) AHSP의 H/T비가 낮아질수록 응력이 감소하며, 셀 크기(H)보다는 코어의 두께(T)가 두꺼워질수록 강도와 강성이 증가함을 알 수 있다. 2) AHSP 구조가 동일한 질량에서부터 증가하면서 EASP 구조에 비해 2.5～6.0배 정도의 높은 강도를 보이는 것을 알 수 있다. 3) AHSP의 면재의 두께변화는 AHSP 전체의 강성에 별로 영향을 미치지 못했으나, 심재의 두께가 증가할수록 단면 2차 모멘트의 값이 커지기 때문에 AHSP의 강성이 매우 커짐을 알 수 있다. 4) EASP보다 강성이 큰 AHSP의 고유진동수가 크며, 진동 모드 사이의 차도 커짐을 알 수 있다. 5) 비교연구 결과 AHSP 구조가 EASP 구조보다 적은 질량으로 훨씬 더 높은 강성을 갖는, AHSP 구조의 우수성이 입증된다. 따라서 중량경감이 가장 중요한 문제 중의 하나인 초고속선 및 대형선의 경우 AHSP 구조가 높은 굽힘강성을 갖고 다른 재료에 비해 상대적으로 적은 중량이 필요하므로 구조 재료로서의 적합성을 알 수 있다.