Anyone know of any publications or web sites that have some
basic rules of thumb on how to estimate the strength of a
composite sandwich panel–for the mathematically challenged?
That is, for a given load, what core thickness (of what density)
and number of plies of glass or CF per square ft. (or other
unit) of panel. Case in point, I would like to use a CS panel
of approx 44" X 68" as a center segment in a hybrid chassis for
a light weight street rod. Front and rear chassis extensions
would be 1" sq. steel tube in a space frame arrangement. From my
“eyeball school of engineering” (if it looks right, it probably
is right) point of view, a core of 3/4" end grain balsa with
4 to 6 layers of CF and epoxy on each side plus some top and
bottom layers of thin plywood and 6 oz. glass as dent protection
for the CF is the starting point. Hate to overbuild as minimum
weight is the object of the exercise.
Thanks