Hydroforming of Sandwich Panels

本研究的目的是促进对液压成形夹层材料力学的理解。夹层材料由两片面板和多孔芯构成，用于减轻重量，提高隔热性能，降低噪音和振动，并增加能量吸收。传统的构造异形夹芯板的方法既昂贵又费时。提出的项目将研究一种新的方法来制造基于薄板液压成形技术的异形夹芯板。该项目将解决具有挑战性的问题，包括：夹层板成分的有效表征和建模；了解工作面起皱/断裂、岩心剪切/断裂、工作面与岩心脱层等相互竞争的破坏模式；确定夹层材料的成形极限；并进行实验来验证模型预测。如果成功，这项研究将导致对夹层板变形力学的基本理解，并将扩大夹层材料在各个行业的减重应用。研究成果将对提高汽车燃油效率、减少有害气体排放等产生重大影响。该项目还将为学生提供积极参与具有实际应用价值的研究项目的绝佳机会。

The objective of the research is to advance the understanding of the mechanics of hydroforming sandwich materials. Sandwich materials, constructed from two face sheets and a porous core, have been used to reduce weight, improve thermal insulation, reduce noise and vibration, and increase energy absorption. The traditional method of constructing shaped sandwich panels is costly and time consuming. The proposed project will investigate a new approach to manufacture shaped sandwich panels based using sheet hydroforming techniques. The project will address challenging issues including: effective characterization and modeling of the constituents of the sandwich panel; understanding the competing failure modes among face sheet wrinkle/fracture, core shear/fracture, and de-lamination between the face sheet and the core; determining the forming limit of the sandwich materials; and conducting experiments to validate model predictions.If successful, this research will lead to a fundamental understanding of the deformation mechanics of sandwich panels and will broaden the use of sandwich materials for weight reduction applications in various industries. The research results can generate significant impact such as improving vehicle fuel efficiency and decreasing harmful emissions. The project will also provide excellent opportunities for students to actively participate in a research project that has practical applications.