Comparison of two models for predicting the failure mode of aluminum foam core sandwich beams at high temperatures

In this paper, the two models of Modified Gibson and “Montanini” are used to predict failure behavior of sandwich beams with aluminum foam core at high temperatures. First, the geometrical and physical properties of the two models were considered to describe failure mode of the sandwich beam. Next, the failure load diagram of the beam in terms of beam geometrical properties as well as temperature was obtained using these two models and the results were compared with available experimental data. A good agreement was observed between theoretical results and experimental data. In both models, it can be seen that the theoretical failure loads are enhanced by increasing face and core thicknesses and are reduced by increasing span length. Moreover, according to the results of the two models, the failure loads decrease with temperature rise. In the “Montanini” model, the asymmetric deformation of the beam is considered (despite the geometrical and loading symmetry), while the Gibson’s model has no justification about it. Besides, in “Montanini” model at high temperatures, the amount of experimental failure load is closer to the load of one of the modes (mode IIB). However in Gibson’s model at high temperatures, the amount of experimental load is between failure load in two modes and the failure mode cannot be clearly specified in some temperature ranges. However, one of the drawbacks of the “Montanini” model as compared with Gibson’s model, is the lack of prediction of face yield failure mode.