Layerwise models for supersonic flutter analysis of viscoelastic sandwich panels with curvilinear fibre composite skins

In this work, an assessment of layerwise finite element models for supersonic flutter analysis of soft core viscoelastic sandwich panels is presented, making use of various kinematic descriptions involving shear deformation theories and Lagrange z-expansions with thickness stretching, progressively refined to render numerically accurate and computationally efficient solutions. Numerical applications of sandwich panels include either viscoelastic or purely elastic core with skins of metal or laminated composite, using unidirectional or curvilinear fibres, considering thin and moderately thick panels, with core thickness ratios ranging from narrow to wide cores. A comprehensive assessment of the models predictive capabilities in free vibration analysis is carried out by comparison with three-dimensional exact solutions and numerical methods available in the literature. Even though it is concluded that layerwise first-order modelling, with no thickness stretching, ensures a fair compromise between numerical accuracy and computational efficiency in the aeroelastic flutter analysis of thin sandwich panels, layerwise high-order theories accounting for thickness stretching are rather necessary for the proper modelling of moderately thick sandwich panels, with either viscoelastic or purely elastic core.