Exercise 1: Sandwich Panel Model

Hybrid materials and structures combine the benefits of two or more materials to produce new materials that exhibit unique combinations of properties.

For example, both composite materials and sandwich panels are commonly used to create strong, lightweight structures.

  1. Make a bubble chart of Young’s modulus (E) against Density (ρ) using MaterialUniverse: All bulk materials

    See Exercise 6 in Browse, Search & Chart for detailed instructions.

  2. Use the Sandwich Panels model to create synthesized records for a family of hybrid materials

    Click Synthesizer on the toolbar (or click Tools > Synthesizer on the menu bar).

    Select the Sandwich Panels – Balanced model.

  3. Set the Source Record values
    Face-sheet:
    Aluminum, 6061, wrought, T6
    Core:
    Polymethacrylimide foam (rigid, 0.200)

    Click Browse and locate the records in the browse tree.

  4. Use the default values for Model variables and parameters, and set the following Record naming values:
    Face-sheet
    Al
    Core
    Rohacell
  5. Create the synthesized records

    Click Create and then Finish. The new synthesized records will be shown in the Results list and on the Chart Stage.

    Note: The Help in the Synthesizer dialog opens further information about the current model type, including details of the calculations used.
  6. Plot an Index line corresponding to a lightweight, stiff panel in bending Ef1/3/ρ
    Click Index line, enter a slope value of 3, and Maximize the index.
  7. Add labels to the source records and some of the synthesized records

    You can select individual records on the chart and drag to place a label.

    You can also add labels from the Results list: select one or more records in the list, right-click and select Label on the shortcut menu, then drag the labels where you want them on the chart.

    Click Highlight synthesized records records to help you identify the records on the chart.

    Use the Zoom controls and to zoom in to the area of interest on the chart.

    Synthesized records appear on the Browse tree under My Records. They can be edited or deleted in a similar way to User-defined records, by right-clicking and selecting Edit Record or Delete Record.