ABSTRACT
The paper presents experimental analysis of large deformations of square, composite, sandwich plates subjected to shear. The main object of the research was to define the impact of circular cut-out on the level of limit load capacity of such structures. Investigations with the use of 3D DIC method has allowed to specify in details subsequent phases of destruction caused by deepening fracture of a plate core. The conducted studies indicated that the introduction of circular cut-out of area equal to 15% of a whole plate area leads to decreasing the structural load bearing capability by 65%, the loss in stiffness of structure reaches almost 140% for the same load level.
