Composite Design Basics
Sandwich-panel design
A sandwich panel bonds two thin, strong face sheets to a much thicker lightweight core. The separated skins carry tension and compression; the core carries transverse shear and prevents the skins from buckling.
In simple terms
A sandwich panel bonds two thin, strong face sheets to a much thicker lightweight core. The separated skins carry tension and compression; the core carries transverse shear and prevents the skins from buckling.
Best for
Watch out for
Typical applications
Aircraft floors and fairings, boat decks and hulls, wind blades, trains, vehicle panels, radomes and lightweight tooling.
Related tools
Use the calculators to turn these concepts into preliminary engineering estimates.