In a composite sandwich structure, core materials and face sheets perform different but complementary functions. The face sheets are the outer layers of the panel and are typically made from strong materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, aluminum, or steel. These layers carry the majority of the tensile and compressive loads.
The core material is the lightweight internal layer located between the face sheets. Its primary role is to keep the skins separated and provide shear strength to the structure. By increasing the distance between the outer layers, the core significantly improves the panel’s bending stiffness.
While face sheets provide surface strength and protection, the core contributes to structural stability, load distribution, and weight reduction.
This combination allows sandwich structures to achieve an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, which is why they are widely used in aerospace, marine, wind energy, and transportation applications.
