Impact modeling of foam cored sandwich plates with ductile or brittle faceplates

This paper reports numerical results of low velocity impact on open-face sandwich plates with an impactor of 2.65 kg mass hitting with 6.7 m/s velocity. The numerical simulation is done using 3D finite element models in LS-DYNA. The sandwich plates used for the present work have a core made of commercial aluminum alloy foam (Alporas) with faceplates made of either ductile aluminum (Al) or brittle carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Selection of suitable constitutive models and erosion criterion for the failure analysis is investigated. A simplified analytical model for the peak load prediction under punch-through failure mode is presented. Numerically predicted contact force versus time, energy absorbed versus time along with the failure modes are compared with the experimental measurements and observations. Within experimental scatter, there is a good agreement between the numerical predictions and experimental measurements. Further more, the analytically predicted peak load values are in excellent agreement with the experimental measurements.     

Modelling of aluminium foam core sandwich panels under impact perforation

Aluminium foam core sandwich panels are good energy absorbers for impact protection applications, such as light-weight structural panels, packing materials and energy absorbing devices. In this study, the high-velocity impact perforation of aluminium foam core sandwich structures was analysed. Sandwich panels with 1100 aluminium face-sheets and closed-cell A356 aluminium alloy foam core were modelled by three-dimensional finite element models. The models were validated with experimental tests by comparing numerical and experimental damage modes, output velocity, ballistic limit and absorbed energy. By this model the influence of foam core and face-sheet thicknesses on the behaviour of the sandwich panel under impact perforation was evaluated.     

Nano-structured sandwich composites response to low-velocity impact

This paper investigates the influence of exfoliated nano-structures on sandwich composites under impact loadings. A set of sandwich composites plates made of fiberglass/nano-modified epoxy face sheets and polystyrene foams was prepared. The core was 25 mm thick and the face sheets were made of eight layers of woven fabric glass fibers and nano-modified epoxy (≈0.8 mm of thickness). The epoxy system was bisphenol A resin and an amine hardener. The fiber volume fraction used was around 65%, while the nanoclay content varied from 0 wt.% to 10 wt.%. The nanoclay used was Cloisite 30B from Southern Clay. The sandwich panels were submitted to low-velocity impact tests with energies from 5 J to 75 J. Two sets of experiments were performed, i.e. high velocity + low mass and low velocity + high mass. Damage caused by the two groups of experiments and peak forces measured were dissimilar. The results show that the addition of 5 wt.% of nanoclay lead to a more efficient energy absorption. The failure modes were also analyzed, and they seems to be affected by the nanoclay addition to face sheets.     

Response of thin-skinned sandwich panels to contact loading with flat-ended cylindrical punches: Experiments,numerical simulations and neutron diffraction measurements

The response of aluminium foam-cored sandwich panels to localised contact loading was investigated experimentally and numerically using flat-ended cylindrical punch of four varying sizes. ALPORAS and ALULIGHT closed-cell foams of 15 mm thickness with 0.3 mm thick aluminium face sheets (of 236 MPa yield strength) were used to manufacture the sandwich panels. Face sheet fracturing at the perimeter of the indenter, in addition to foam cells collapse beneath the indenter and tearing of the cell walls at the perimeter of the indenter were the major failure mechanisms of the sandwich panels, irrespective of the strength and density of the underlying foam core. The authors employed a 3D model in ABAQUS/Explicit to evaluate the indentation event, the skin failure of the face sheets and carry out a sensitivity study of the panel's response. Using the foam model of Deshpande and Fleck combined with the forming limit diagram (FLD) of the aluminium face sheet, good quantitative and qualitative correlations between experiments and simulations were achieved. The higher plastic compliance of the ALPORAS led to increased bending of the sheet metal and delayed the onset of sheet necking and failure. ALULIGHT-cored panels exhibited higher load bearing and energy absorption capacity, compared with ALPORAS cores, due to their higher foam and cell densities and higher yield strength of the cell walls. Additionally, they exhibited greater propensity for strain hardening as evidenced by mechanical testing and the neutron diffraction measurements, which demonstrated the development of macroscopically measurable stresses at higher strains. At these conditions the ALULIGHT response upon compaction becomes akin to the response of bulk material with measurable elastic modulus and evident Poisson effect.     

Impact response of sandwich plates with a pyramidal lattice core

The ballistic performance edge clamped 304 stainless-steel sandwich panels has been measured by impacting the plates at mid-span with a spherical steel projectile whose impact velocity ranged from 250 to 1300 m s⁻¹. The sandwich plates comprised two identical face sheets and a pyramidal truss core: the diameter of the impacting spherical projectile was approximately half the 25 mm truss core cell size. The ballistic behavior has been compared with monolithic 304 stainless-steel plates of approximately equal areal mass and with high-strength aluminum alloy (6061-T6) sandwich panels of identical geometry. The ballistic performance is quantified in terms of the entry and exit projectile velocities while high-speed photography is used to investigate the dynamic deformation and failure mechanisms. The stainless-steel sandwich panels were found to have a much higher ballistic resistance than the 6061-T6 aluminum alloy panels on a per volume basis but the ballistic energy absorption of the aluminum structures was slightly higher on a per unit mass basis. The ballistic performance of the monolithic and sandwich panels is almost identical though the failure mechanics of these two types of structures are rather different. At high impact velocities, the monolithic plates fail by ductile hole enlargement. By contrast, only the proximal face sheet of the sandwich plate undergoes this type of failure. The distal face sheet fails by a petalling mode over the entire velocity range investigated here. Given the substantially higher blast resistance of sandwich plates compared to monolithic plates of equal mass, we conclude that sandwich plates display a potential to outperform monolithic plates in multi-functional applications that combine blast resistance and ballistic performance.     

An analytical model for composite sandwich panels with honeycomb core subjected to high-velocity impact

In this paper, an analytical model for perforation of composite sandwich panels with honeycomb core subjected to high-velocity impact has been developed. The sandwich panel consists of a aluminium honeycomb core sandwiched between two thin composite skins. The solution involves a three-stage, perforation process including perforation of the front composite skin, honeycomb core, and bottom composite skin. The strain and kinetic energy of the front and back-up composite skins and the absorbed energy of honeycomb core has been estimated. In addition, based on the energy balance and equation of motion the absorbed energy of sandwich panel, residual velocity of projectile, perforation time and projectile velocity have been obtained and compared with the available experimental tests and numerical model. Furthermore, effects of composite skins and aluminium honeycomb core on perforation resistance and ballistic performance of sandwich panels has been investigated.     

Sensitivity of structurally loaded sandwich panels to localized ballistic penetration

This paper describes a series of tests focused on the combination of structural loading (bending, shear) and simultaneous penetrating impact on sandwich panels with thin GFRP face-sheets, with emphasis on the specific damage morphologies and developments depending on the type and magnitude of structural loading. The test specimens were sandwich panels, length 250 mm and width 150 mm, with carbon fibre prepreg face-sheets ([0°/90°], thickness t_f ≅ 0.5 mm) bonded to the faces of a foam core (density 80 kg/m³, thickness H = 10 mm). The impact velocity was approximately 420 m/s, using a spherical steel impactor, diameter 10 mm, with a mass of 4.1 g. A high-speed camera was used for registration of panel response. It was demonstrated, that, at preload levels above a specific limit, the impact would cause catastrophic failure, i.e., complete or near-complete loss of structural load carrying capacity. Developments of failure morphology, consistent with the observed evidence, were derived and outlined.     

LOW VELOCITY PERFORATION BEHAVIOUR OF POLYMER COMPOSITE SANDWICH PANELS

The paper describes low-velocity impact tests on square panels made from two polymer composite sandwich constructions, namely woven glass vinyl ester skins with Coremat core and woven glass epoxy pre-preg skins with honeycomb core. The impact velocity was up to 8 m s^-1 with an impact mass of up to 30 kg giving a maximum impact energy of 882 J. This maximum energy gives full perforation of the panels. The panels were 0.5 m by 0.5 m with clamped but free to pull in boundary conditions. The impactor geometry considered was a 50 mm diameter hemisphere. Results are expressed in the form of energy and failure mode plots and it is shown that the energy absorbing capabilities of the panels increase with the velocity of impact. The increase in energy absorption is attributed to an increase in the core crush stress and skin failure stress at high strain rates. Some discussion is given on the influence of the energy absorbing capabilities of constituent materials on the overall energy absorption behaviour of the panel. Suggestions have also been made for increasing panel perforation energy.     

Dynamic models for low-velocity impact damage of composite sandwich panels – Part B: Damage initiation

Equivalent single and multi degree-of-freedom systems are used to predict low-velocity impact damage of composite sandwich panels by rigid projectiles. The composite sandwich panels are symmetric and consist of orthotropic laminate facesheets and a core with constant crushing resistance. The transient deformation response of the sandwich panels subjected to impact were predicted in a previous paper, and analytical solutions for the impact force and velocity at damage initiation in sandwich panels are presented in this second paper. Several damage initiation modes are considered, including tensile and shear fracture of the top facesheet, core shear failure, and tensile failure of back facesheet. The impact failure modes are similar to static indentation failure modes, but inertial resistance and high strain rate material properties of the facesheets and core influence impact damage loads. Predicted damage initiation loads and impact velocities compare well with experimental results.     

Compressive strength after impact of CFRP-foam core sandwich panels in marine applications

A plastic micro buckling approach is investigated in order to see whether it can be used to analytically predict the residual strength of carbon fiber sandwich structures.

A parametric study on impact damage resistance and residual strength of sandwich panels with carbon fiber-vinylester faces and PVC foam core is conducted. Two sandwich configurations are studied. The first configuration consists of thin faces and an intermediate density core, representative of a panel from a superstructure. The second configuration consists of thick faces and a high density core, representative of a panel from a hull. Two different impactor geometries are used. One spherical impactor and one pyramid shaped impactor are used in a drop weight rig to inflict low velocity impact damage of different energy levels in the face of the sandwich.

The damages achieved ranges from barely visible damages to penetration of one face. Residual strength is tested using in-plane compression of the sandwich plates either instrumented with strain gauges or monitored with digital speckle photography.     

A triangular plate element for thermo‐elastic analysis of sandwich panels with a functionally graded core

A sandwich construction is commonly composed of a single soft isotropic core with relatively stiff orthotropic face sheets. The stiffness of the core may be functionally graded through the thickness in order to reduce the interfacial shear stresses. In analysing sandwich panels with a functionally gradient core, the three‐dimensional conventional finite elements or elements based on the layerwise (zig‐zag) theory can be used. Although these elements accurately model a sandwich panel, they are computationally costly when the core is modelled as composed of several layers due to its grading material properties. An alternative to these elements is an element based on a single‐layer plate theory in which the weighted‐average field variablescapture the panel deformation in the thickness direction. This study presents a new triangular finite element based on {3,2}‐order single‐layer theory for modelling thick sandwich panels with or without a functionally graded core subjected to thermo‐mechanical loading. A hybrid energy functional is employed in the derivation of the element because of a C¹ interelement continuity requirement. The variations of temperature and distributed loading acting on the top and bottom surfaces are non‐uniform. The temperature also varies arbitrarily through the thickness. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Buckling,collapse and failure analysis of FRP sandwich panels

Rectangular orthotropic fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) sandwich panels were tested for buckling in uni-axial compression. The panels, with 0.32 cm (0.125 in.) face sheets and a 1.27 cm (0.5 in.) core of either balsa or linear poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) foam, were tested in two sizes: 154×77 cm² (72×36 in.²) and 102×77 cm² (48×36 in.²). The sandwich panels were fabricated using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. The two short edges of the sandwich panels were clamped, while the two long edges were simply supported for testing. The clamped panel ends were potted into a steel frame. The experimental elastic buckling loads were then measured using strain gauges fixed to both sides of the panels. A total of 12 panels were tested under uni-axial compression. Bifurcation in the load versus engineering strain curve was noted in all cases. For all six sandwich panels tested using balsa core, the type of failure was easily identified as face sheet delamination followed by core shear failure. For all six PVC foam core sandwich panels tested, the type of failure consisted of core shear failure with little or no face sheet delamination. In the failed balsa core panels there was little or no evidence of balsa remaining on the FRP face sheet, however, in the PVC foam core panels there were ample amounts of foam left on the FRP face sheet. It was concluded that although the buckling loads for the foam core panels were not as high as those for the balsa core panels, PVC foam core bonding to the FRP face sheets was superior to balsa core bonding.     

Energy Absorption Characteristics of Web-Core Sandwich Composite Panels Subjected to Drop-Weight Impact

The objective of the study was to characterise the energy absorption of composite panels with tied cores, subjected to a drop weight impact test. Numerical simulations based on explicit finite element analysis have successfully modelled low velocity impact tests carried out on sandwich panels with web-core structure and plastic foam. The numerical model has been validated in terms of the failure behaviour of the panel and the variation of the contact force after the initial peak load corresponding to flexural failure. The numerical model is used for a better interpretation of the test results and of the failure mechanisms within the structure. The contribution to the overall energy absorption of the different parts composing the panels has been studied, with the aim of evaluating the feasibility of using low density foam in combination with web-core reinforcement in structural applications.     

A numerical model for bird strike of aluminium foam-based sandwich panels

Experimental bird-strike tests have been carried out on double sandwich panels made from AlSi7Mg0.5 aluminium foam core and aluminium AA2024 T3 cover plates. The bird-strike velocity varied from 140 to 190 m/s. The test specimens were instrumented with strain gauges in the impacted area to measure the local strains of the rear sandwich plate. A numerical model of this problem has been developed with the non-linear, finite element program LS-DYNA. A continuum damage-mechanics-based constitutive model was used to describe the behaviour and failure of the aluminium cover plates. The foam core was modelled by a pressure sensitive constitutive model coupled by a failure criterion on maximum volumetric strains. The bird was represented by an idealised geometry and the material model was defined by a linear equation-of-state. A multi-material arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) element formulation was used to represent the motion of the bird, whereas the sandwich panel was described by a Lagrangian reference configuration. A fluid–structure interface ensured proper coupling between the motion of the bird and the solid materials of the sandwich panel. It was found that the model was able to represent failure of both the aluminium cover plates as well as the aluminium foam core.     

Effect of a Thin Soft Core on the Impact Behaviour of CFRP Laminates

Low-velocity impact tests were carried out on sandwich plates having CFRP facings and thin rubbery core. Two types of cores, differing in the material nature and thickness, were used. For comparison, similar tests were performed on the monolithic laminate. Various impact parameters, among which indentation, first failure energy, perforation energy, absorbed energy and maximum contact force, were analyzed, to highlight the effect of the core on the material response. The influence of the core on the macroscopic behaviour of the panels was quite limited, except in the elastic phase, where the lower stiffness of the sandwich configurations resulted in a higher energy at first failure. More relevant differences were found from the study of failure modes, carried out combining ultrasonic C-scan and a limited number of microscopic observations. In particular, in correspondence of the energy for barely visible impact damage, besides considerable facing-core debonding, both the facings of the sandwich structures exhibited fibre breakage at their back side.     

泡沫铝夹层结构复合材料低速冲击性能

以泡沫铝为夹芯材料,玄武岩纤维(BF)和超高分子量聚乙烯纤维(UHMWPE)复合材料为面板,制备夹层结构复合材料。研究纤维类型、铺层结构和芯材厚度对泡沫铝夹层结构复合材料冲击性能和损伤模式的影响规律,并与铝蜂窝夹层结构复合材料性能进行对比分析。结果表明:BF/泡沫铝夹层结构比UHMWPE/泡沫铝夹层结构具有更大的冲击破坏载荷,但冲击位移和吸收能量较小。BF和UHMWPE两种纤维的分层混杂设计比叠加混杂具有更高的冲击破坏载荷和吸收能量。随着泡沫铝厚度的增加,夹层结构复合材料的冲击破坏载荷降低,破坏吸收能量增大。泡沫铝夹层结构比铝蜂窝夹层结构具有更高的冲击破坏载荷,但冲击破坏吸收能量较小;泡沫铝芯材以冲击部位的碎裂为主要失效形式,铝蜂窝芯材整体压缩破坏明显。     

Modelling of composite sandwich structures with honeycomb core subjected to high-velocity impact

In this study the perforation of composite sandwich structures subjected to high-velocity impact was analysed. Sandwich panels with carbon/epoxy skins and an aluminium honeycomb core were modelled by a three-dimensional finite element model implemented in ABAQUS/Explicit. The model was validated with experimental tests by comparing numerical and experimental residual velocity, ballistic limit, and contact time. By this model the influence of the components on the behaviour of the sandwich panel under impact load was evaluated; also, the contribution of the failure mechanisms to the energy-absorption of the projectile kinetic energy was determined.     

An analytical solution for the large deflections of a slender sandwich beam with a metallic foam core under transverse loading by a flat punch

The large deflections of slender ultralight sandwich beams with a metallic foam core are studied under transverse loading by a flat punch, in which interaction of bending and stretching induced by large deflections is considered. Firstly, a unified yield criterion for metallic sandwich structures considering the effect of core strength is proposed, which is valid for metallic sandwich cross-sections with various core strengths and geometries. This can reduce to the yield criterion for a solid monolithic cross-section and the classical yield criterion for sandwich cross-sections with a weak core, respectively. Then, analytical solutions for the large deflections of fully clamped and simply supported metallic foam core sandwich beams are derived under transverse loading by a flat punch, respectively. Comparisons of the present solutions with experimental results are presented and good agreements are found. The effects of the core strength, the size of loading punch and the boundary conditions on the structural response of sandwich beams are discussed in detail. It is shown that the axial stretching induced by large deflections has significant effect on the load-carrying and energy absorption capacities of sandwich structures in the post-yield regime, and the load-carrying and plastic energy absorption capacities of metallic foam core sandwich beams may be underestimated as the core strength is neglected in analysis, especially for the sandwich beams with a strong core.     

Failure initiation and propagation characteristics of honeycomb sandwich composites

The energy absorbed during the failure of a variety of structural shapes is influenced by material, geometry and the failure mode. Failure initiation and propagation of the honeycomb sandwich under loading involves not only non-linear behavior of the constituent materials, but also complex interactions between various failure mechanisms. Therefore, there is a need for an improved understanding of the material characteristics and energy absorption modes to facilitate the design of sandwich performance. In the present study, failure initiation and propagation characteristics of sandwich beams and panels subjected to quasi-static and impact loadings were investigated. Experimental studies involved a series of penetration and perforation tests on 2D beam and 3D panel configurations using a truncated cone impactor with impact velocities up to 10 m/s. Preliminary tests were also performed on the sandwich beams subjected to the three-point bending. Load-carrying, energy-absorbing characteristics and failure mechanisms under quasi-static and impact loading were determined. Dominant deformation modes involved upper skin compression failure in the vicinity of the indenter, core crushing and lower skin tensile failure.     

Finite element analysis of sandwich panels with stepwise graded aluminum honeycomb cores under blast loading

This paper presents details and brief results of an experimental investigation on the response of metallic sandwich panels with stepwise graded aluminum honeycomb cores under blast loading. Based on the experiments, corresponding finite element simulations have been undertaken using the LS-DYNA software. It is observed that the core compression stage was coupled with the fluid–structure interaction stage, and the compression of the core layer decreased from the central to the peripheral zone. The blast resistance capability of sandwich panels was moderately sensitive to the core relative density and graded distribution. For the graded panels with relative density descending core arrangement, the core plastic energy dissipation and the transmitted force attenuation were larger than that of the ungraded ones under the same loading condition. The graded sandwich panels, especially for relative density descending core arrangement, would display a better blast resistance than the ungraded ones at a specific loading region.