Three-Dimensional Elasticity Solution for Sandwich Plates With Orthotropic Phases: The Positive Discriminant Case

Abstract

A three-dimensional elasticity solution for rectangular sandwich plates exists only under restrictive assumptions on the orthotropic material constants of the constitutive phases (i.e., face sheets and core). In particular, only for negative or zero discriminant of the cubic characteristic equation, which is formed from these constants (case of three real roots). The purpose of the present paper is to present the corresponding solution for the more challenging case of positive discriminant, in which two of the roots are complex conjugates.