ArcelorMittal S.A.
Method for producing a sandwich structure

Abstract:

A process for manufacturing a sandwich structure including two steel skin layers separated by a polymeric layer is provided. The process includes dimensioning the sandwich structure according to a target to be attained by defining the target to be attained by three target values, i.e., tensile strength T.sub.c expressed in kN/mm, bending stiffness B.sub.c expressed in kN/mm, and surface mass M.sub.c expressed in Kg/m.sup.2, defining a tolerance for the attainment of target values, defining the sandwich structure by five variables, i.e., the thickness E.sub.a of the steel skin layers expressed in mm, the polymeric layer thickness E.sub.p expressed in mm, the intrinsic Young's modulus Y.sub.p of the polymeric layer, the intrinsic density d.sub.p of the polymeric layer, and the volume ratio R.sub.p of the polymeric layer expressed as a volume percentage of the polymeric layer of the material, identifying the E.sub.a, E.sub.p, Y.sub.p, d.sub.p, and R.sub.p combinations enabling attainment of the target values having the defined tolerance, and determining, for each variable, an operating range. The process also includes selecting the steel and the polymeric layer for which each variable is within the range defined in the previous step and manufacturing the corresponding sandwich structure.