With　attributes　such　as　high　stiffness,　high　damping　and　lightweight,　laser-welded　corrugated-core　(LASCOR)　sandwich　panels　with　polyurea-metal　laminate　(PML)　face　sheets　were　envisioned　as　multifunctional　sandwich　constructions　to　meet　the　growing　needs　of　loading　bearing　and　vibration/noise　suppression.　The　sensitivity　of　vibration　damping　characteristics　of　these　novel　sandwich　panels　was　systematically　investigated　using　a　combined　finite　element-modal　strain　energy　(FE-MSE)　method,　and　their　superiority　over　monolithic　panels　having　equal　mass　was　highlighted.　Subsequently,　the　fidelity　of　using　the　surrogate　modeling　technique　to　approximate　the　damping　loss　factor　of　the　sandwich　panel　was　analyzed.　Under　the　principles　of　cross-validation,　the　orthogonal　polynomial　model　was　found　to　provide　the　most　accurate　predictions　among　four　widely　used　surrogate　models.　A　high-efficiency　optimization　procedure　factoring　structural　stiffness,　damping　loss,　and　weight　of　the　sandwich　panel　was　proposed　by　coupling　the　surrogate　model　and　an　optimization　algorithm.　For　single-objective　optimization,　the　total　weight　of　the　optimal　sandwich　panel　decreased　by　around　7%　compared　with　that　of　preliminary　design.　Meanwhile,　the　Pareto　fronts　obtained　from　multi-objective　optimizations　revealed　significant　enhancements　of　both　damping　loss　factor/structural　stiffness　and　specific　damping　loss　factor/structural　stiffness.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd