Stiffness control analysis through numerical modelling of a smart sandwich panel with OSB facesheets and a tensegrity lattice core

Abstract This paper presents the concept and results of numerical analysis of a new type of sandwich panel with OSB facesheets and a tensegrity lattice core. The key objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of controlling the bending stiffness of the panel by adjusting the level of prestress in the tensegrity members. The first step was the experimental determination of Young’s moduli for OSB in two perpendicular directions, which was important due to the variability of OSB properties specified in the literature. The numerical modelling was then performed using the finite element method in the ABAQUS™ environment, analysing various computational parameters, such as the type of core, the OSB thickness, the stiffness of the core, and the core-to-facesheets interaction properties. The results showed that the type of connection between the core and the OSB had the greatest impact on the controllability of the stiffness of the panel. Among others, the reduction of the number of attachment points increased the controllability of the structure. In contrast, OSB thickness and strut diameter had a negligible effect. As a result of the numerical study, a panel configuration was selected for the next step of research, which are experimental tests on the physical model.