Effect of Curvilinear Reinforcing Fibers on the Linear Static Behavior of Soft-Core Sandwich Structures

The present research deals with the linear static behavior of soft-core sandwich plates and shells. The external skins are reinforced by curvilinear fibers. Their curved paths are described by a general mathematical law that allows the definition of arbitrary placements. The mechanical behavior of these structures is modeled through several Higher-order Shear Deformation Theories (HSDTs) including the zig-zag effect, based on an Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) approach. The solution of the governing equations is achieved numerically by means of the Generalized Differential Quadrature (GDQ) method. A huge number of parametric investigations is proposed in graphical and tabular forms to highlight the influence of the fiber orientation on the static response. The results prove that the structural behavior is affected by such parameters. Thus, the desired structural behavior can be modified by means of a proper choice of the fiber orientation.