Fatigue behaviour of aluminium foam sandwiches

Aluminium foam sandwiches are subjected to four point bending fatigue test considering the effect of geometric parameters of panels, like core and plate thickness, and loading mode, like arm distance. Fatigue strength curves are expressed in terms of different stress amplitude parameters calculated using an analytical model based on laminated plate classical theory and a solid FEM model. Nevertheless the relevant fatigue data scatter, originated by foam intrinsic in-homogeneity, experimental fatigue curves are coherent and allow obtaining unified fatigue curves.