Energy Absorbing Ability of Sandwich Composite Structures

Abstract

There is increasing interest in the impact energy absorbing ability of lightweight sandwich and similar materials. This is for reducing the unladen weight of transporters to achieve improved operational performance with better fuel economy and lower other direct operating costs. These requirements very much relate to the increasing demand for more transportation systems and the need for increased safety as traffic congestion rises. Two safety needs are to reduce the risk of penetration into the cabin space when impacts occur and to lower the deceleration rate for the occupants. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact energy absorbing ability of sandwich materials that have different skin and honeycomb cores. This was for different impact conditions as simulated by drop-weight and constant velocity impact experiments. These studies assess the energy absorbing damage at all stages of the impact and relate this to the impact conditions in terms of size and shape of impact contact surface and closing velocities. Also, determined were the retained integrity of the sandwich materials at different stages of the impact up to and after it has been penetrated.