Free vibration analysis of aluminum foam metal sandwich panels: a comparative study between numerical and analytical modelling

This study investigates the natural frequencies and vibrational behavior of aluminum foam sandwich panels by using numerical and analytical methods. The panels consist of an aluminum foam core sandwiched between two aluminum sheets, offering a lightweight yet structurally robust solution, making the...

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Main Authors: Zahra Hamdan, Sadeq Bakhy, Muhsin Jweeg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Unviversity of Technology- Iraq 2025-01-01
Series:Engineering and Technology Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://etj.uotechnology.edu.iq/article_185910_1101ffadb82e0878bce2cde3f4a297ff.pdf
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author Zahra Hamdan
Sadeq Bakhy
Muhsin Jweeg
author_facet Zahra Hamdan
Sadeq Bakhy
Muhsin Jweeg
author_sort Zahra Hamdan
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the natural frequencies and vibrational behavior of aluminum foam sandwich panels by using numerical and analytical methods. The panels consist of an aluminum foam core sandwiched between two aluminum sheets, offering a lightweight yet structurally robust solution, making them ideal for applications in the aerospace and automotive industries. A mathematical model based on classical plate theory (CPT) was developed to compute the natural frequencies of supported rectangular sandwich plates. The Gibson-Ashby equation was employed to estimate the Young's modulus of the aluminum foam core. The analytical model was validated using finite element analysis (FEA) conducted in ANSYS 2021 R1, allowing for a thorough comparison between numerical and analytical results. The results showed strong agreement between the numerical and theoretical analysis, especially at high foam densities. The discrepancies between the numerical simulation and analytical predictions decreased with increasing foam density. For instance, at a density of 850 kg/m³, the difference between the numerical natural frequency (674 Hz) and the analytical prediction (681.75 Hz) was only 1.14%. In contrast, at a lower density of 350 kg/m³, the discrepancy increased to 8.52%, with numerical and analytical frequencies of 739.66 Hz and 808.51 Hz, respectively. This trend can be attributed to the complexities in the material behavior at lower densities, which the analytical model simplifies by neglecting nonlinear deformations and complex stress distributions. As foam density increases, the material exhibits more consistent mechanical properties, resulting in closer alignment between numerical and analytical results. Moreover, higher foam densities contribute to an increase in mass, which negatively affects the natural frequency, causing it to decrease. Conversely, an increase in Young's modulus enhances the stiffness of the material, resulting in higher natural frequencies. Therefore, the optimal foam density range of 350 to 450 kg/m³ is crucial for achieving a good balance between stiffness and weight. Maintaining a lightweight structure while improving stiffness is essential for achieving optimal performance. Consequently, these panels are particularly suitable for applications in the aerospace and automotive sectors that require lightweight, high-performance structures.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1681-6900
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spelling doaj-art-bea6ea3cd48f46d4a476040bbd6abf922025-02-02T07:51:22ZengUnviversity of Technology- IraqEngineering and Technology Journal1681-69002412-07582025-01-01431587410.30684/etj.2024.153779.1821185910Free vibration analysis of aluminum foam metal sandwich panels: a comparative study between numerical and analytical modellingZahra Hamdan0Sadeq Bakhy1Muhsin Jweeg2Mechanical Engineering Dept., University of Technology-Iraq, Alsina’a street, 10066 Baghdad, Iraq. Mechanical Engineering Dept., College of Engineering, Mustansiriyah University-Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq.Mechanical Engineering Dept., University of Technology-Iraq, Alsina’a street, 10066 Baghdad, Iraq.College of Technical Engineering, Al-Farahidi University, Baghdad, Iraq.This study investigates the natural frequencies and vibrational behavior of aluminum foam sandwich panels by using numerical and analytical methods. The panels consist of an aluminum foam core sandwiched between two aluminum sheets, offering a lightweight yet structurally robust solution, making them ideal for applications in the aerospace and automotive industries. A mathematical model based on classical plate theory (CPT) was developed to compute the natural frequencies of supported rectangular sandwich plates. The Gibson-Ashby equation was employed to estimate the Young's modulus of the aluminum foam core. The analytical model was validated using finite element analysis (FEA) conducted in ANSYS 2021 R1, allowing for a thorough comparison between numerical and analytical results. The results showed strong agreement between the numerical and theoretical analysis, especially at high foam densities. The discrepancies between the numerical simulation and analytical predictions decreased with increasing foam density. For instance, at a density of 850 kg/m³, the difference between the numerical natural frequency (674 Hz) and the analytical prediction (681.75 Hz) was only 1.14%. In contrast, at a lower density of 350 kg/m³, the discrepancy increased to 8.52%, with numerical and analytical frequencies of 739.66 Hz and 808.51 Hz, respectively. This trend can be attributed to the complexities in the material behavior at lower densities, which the analytical model simplifies by neglecting nonlinear deformations and complex stress distributions. As foam density increases, the material exhibits more consistent mechanical properties, resulting in closer alignment between numerical and analytical results. Moreover, higher foam densities contribute to an increase in mass, which negatively affects the natural frequency, causing it to decrease. Conversely, an increase in Young's modulus enhances the stiffness of the material, resulting in higher natural frequencies. Therefore, the optimal foam density range of 350 to 450 kg/m³ is crucial for achieving a good balance between stiffness and weight. Maintaining a lightweight structure while improving stiffness is essential for achieving optimal performance. Consequently, these panels are particularly suitable for applications in the aerospace and automotive sectors that require lightweight, high-performance structures.https://etj.uotechnology.edu.iq/article_185910_1101ffadb82e0878bce2cde3f4a297ff.pdfaluminum foamsandwich panelsnatural frequencyfinite element analysis (fea)classical plate theory (cpt)
spellingShingle Zahra Hamdan
Sadeq Bakhy
Muhsin Jweeg
Free vibration analysis of aluminum foam metal sandwich panels: a comparative study between numerical and analytical modelling
Engineering and Technology Journal
aluminum foam
sandwich panels
natural frequency
finite element analysis (fea)
classical plate theory (cpt)
title Free vibration analysis of aluminum foam metal sandwich panels: a comparative study between numerical and analytical modelling
title_full Free vibration analysis of aluminum foam metal sandwich panels: a comparative study between numerical and analytical modelling
title_fullStr Free vibration analysis of aluminum foam metal sandwich panels: a comparative study between numerical and analytical modelling
title_full_unstemmed Free vibration analysis of aluminum foam metal sandwich panels: a comparative study between numerical and analytical modelling
title_short Free vibration analysis of aluminum foam metal sandwich panels: a comparative study between numerical and analytical modelling
title_sort free vibration analysis of aluminum foam metal sandwich panels a comparative study between numerical and analytical modelling
topic aluminum foam
sandwich panels
natural frequency
finite element analysis (fea)
classical plate theory (cpt)
url https://etj.uotechnology.edu.iq/article_185910_1101ffadb82e0878bce2cde3f4a297ff.pdf
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AT sadeqbakhy freevibrationanalysisofaluminumfoammetalsandwichpanelsacomparativestudybetweennumericalandanalyticalmodelling
AT muhsinjweeg freevibrationanalysisofaluminumfoammetalsandwichpanelsacomparativestudybetweennumericalandanalyticalmodelling