Experimental tests and numerical modeling of a sandwich panel

The aim of this paper is to investigate the main characteristics that a “good enough” FE model of a sandwich plate must have in order to predict with sufficient accuracy its dynamic characteristics up to medium-frequency. Results obtained using different models are discussed in terms of accuracy and inclusion of material losses, and they are compared with results obtained experimentally. A suitable experimental setup and a test plan are designed in order to evaluate the dynamic behaviour of the panel. Material properties, and in particular material losses, of both the foam core and the adhesive bond are obtained as a function of frequency by dynamo-mechanical tests. These are subsequently used for numerical modelling, and the influence of material damping in the frequency range of interest is discussed. The panel is tested on a wide frequency range, and a sensitivity analysis is carried out to explore the effects of different sensor number/position and excitation position.