Development of the lightweight inserts for composite sandwich panels with pyramidal truss cores

Composite sandwich structures are widely used, due to the superior mechanical properties of high specific strength and high specific stiffness compared to solid structures. Composite sandwich panels with truss cores have both lightweight characteristics and multifunctional potential, which makes it possible to reduce the construction mass and increase the bear efficiency. Therefore, a large number of studies have been done on topological optimization, manufacture process and performance evaluation in recent years. However, in virtually, lightweight sandwich panels are not independent individuals, and these sandwich panels have to be connected to other devices. Despite certain types of inserts used for assembly within honeycomb sandwich panels, few studies or information on inserts within sandwich panels with truss cores are published. According to this, effective design of lightweight inserts within truss core sandwich structures have to be adequately treated. In this paper, several types of inserts are proposed for the condition that components or devices have to be connected to the surface of composite sandwich panels with pyramidal truss cores. Brief analysis are carried on to discuss the feasibility and validity of insert methods.