7. Conclusions and outlook

The main mechanical properties sought through the use of sandwich structures, as well as damage modes, are discussed in this article. For each property, experimental tests and analytical expressions are detailed. Predicting the performance of these sandwich panels as a function of the choice of materials and geometrical parameters enables us to design customized solutions for each specification.

For a long time, the extra costs associated with the manufacture of core materials (often porous or honeycombed), as well as with assembly and shaping, limited their use to niche markets such as military, space or sporting goods applications. Today, we are witnessing a massive democratization of this type of composite solution, first and foremost in the transport sector, but also in the building industry, where volumes are similar. The most widely used materials are long-fiber...