  Standing sausage modes are important in interpreting quasi-periodic
pulsations in the lightcurves of solar flares. Their periods and damping times
play an important role in seismologically diagnosing key parameters like the
magnetic field strength in regions where flare energy is released. Usually such
applications are based on theoretical results neglecting unresolved fine
structures in magnetized loops. However, the existence of fine structuring is
suggested on both theoretical and observational grounds. Adopting the framework
of cold magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), we model coronal loops as magnetized
cylinders with a transverse equilibrium density profile comprising a monolithic
part and a modulation due to fine structuring in the form of concentric shells.
The equation governing the transverse velocity perturbation is solved with an
initial-value-problem approach, and the effects of fine structuring on the
periods $P$ and damping times $\tau$ of global, leaky, standing sausage modes
are examined. A parameter study shows that fine structuring, be it periodically
or randomly distributed, brings changes of only a few percent to $P$ and $\tau$
when there are more than about ten shells. The monolithic part, its steepness
in particular, plays a far more important role in determining $P$ and $\tau$.
We conclude that when measured values of $P$ and $\tau$ of sausage modes are
used for seismological purposes, it is justified to use theoretical results
where the effects due to fine structuring are neglected.
