The application of 3D printing technology in the design of sandwich panels

Abstract

Composite materials including sandwich panels can offer a number of advantages such as excellent strength to mass ratio or stiffness to mass ratio. Sandwich panels can find their application in many industrial sectors where the mass and mechanical properties are critical. Despite these and many other advantages, the use of sandwich panels is associated with many problems, which stem from their structural composition (weak core with high shear stiffness connecting two skins with high in plane stiffness). This composition can cause problems in joining the sandwich panels to each other and to other parts by means of mechanical joints. To solve these problems, there exist many accessories such as inserts. The main objective of this paper is to present the development, manufacturing, and testing of plastic inserts for sandwich panels made by Fused Deposition Modelling 3D printing technology.