Abstract
The compressive strength of sandwich constructions with soft core is much influenced by the physical properties and geometrical dimensions of the facing and core materials and the edge conditions. Column compression tests on sandwich column specimens with various combinations of facing and core materials, axial lengths and supporting conditions, were carried out, and the failure modes and the compressive strength for architectural sandwich constructions were investigated. Compressive failures were found to exibit various kinds of failure modes such as compressive fracture of face, overall Euler buckling, and wrinkling depending on various factors such as column length and so on. In addition, the theoretical buckling stresses under rigid-edge condition were obtained and are plotted in the diagram with two nondimensional parameters. The test results are shown to agree with the theoretical compressive strengths and buckling stresses together with failure modes. The differences between the buckling stresses under pinned and rigid support conditions and the effect of core shearing rigidity on buckling values are also discussed.
