Elastic–porous　sandwich　structure　with　entangled　metallic　wire　mesh　(EMWM)　is　of　particular　interest,　and　is　a　complex　and　novel　rigid–flexible　heterogeneous　material.　This　study　introduced　the　fabrication　technology　and　explored　the　shear　failure　behaviours　of　elastic–porous　sandwich　structures.　The　elastic–porous　sandwich　structure　with　different　configurations　such　as　the　side　structures,　the　core　relative　density　and　the　thickness　ratio　of　core/face-sheet　on　the　failure　behaviours　were　analysed　by　experimental　shear　tests.　The　experimental　results　demonstrated　that　the　failure　mode　of　the　elastic–porous　sandwich　structure　could　be　divided　into　four　stages,　that　is　linear,　gradual-soft　deformation,　damage　deformation,　and　stable　damage　failure.　The　different　side　structures　were　presented　in　two　non-forming　directions　of　the　EMWM,　which　had　the　similar　failure　behaviours　but　different　shear　resistance　deformations　in　the　shear　experiment.　With　the　increase　in　relative　density　of　EMWM,　the　capability　of　resisting　shear　deformation　of　the　elastic–porous　sandwich　structure　improved.　However,　the　effect　of　increase　in　the　core/face-sheet　thickness　ratio　on　the　shear　resistance　deformation　of　elastic–porous　sandwich　structures　showed　opposite　change　compared　with　the　increase　of　the　core　in　relative　density.　The　microstructures　and　morphologies　revealed　that　the　metallurgical　bond　of　the　brazing　interface　was　formed,　and　vacuum　brazing　could　greatly　improve　the　interfacial　bonding　strength　between　the　core　and　face　sheet.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd