Experimental analysis of the impact behaviour of sandwich panels with sustainable cores

This paper studies the behaviour of sandwiches subjected to impact loads that result in penetration but not complete perforation. The perforation velocity in panels with two different core materials was determined, and the panel response under complete perforation was assessed using 3D-DIC analysis. The out-of-plane displacements were greater in the sandwich with agglomerated cork due to its lower stiffness. The damage and failure mechanisms that appear in both sandwich configurations were also studied using visual inspection and X-ray computed tomography. An explanation of the physics involved in the impact event is proposed based on the qualitative and quantitative analyses of the damage. It was found that the type of core material affected the failure modes that appeared in the sandwich. Skin delamination and skin/core debonding were important failure mechanisms in sandwich panels with a PET foam core, while in sandwiches with an agglomerated cork core, these mechanisms were not observed.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the behavior of sandwiches under impact loads that cause penetration without complete perforation. The perforation velocity was determined for two different core materials, and the panel response under complete perforation was analyzed using 3D-DIC analysis. The out-of-plane displacements were greater in the sandwich with agglomerated cork due to its lower stiffness. Visual inspection and X-ray computed tomography were used to study the damage and failure mechanisms in both sandwich configurations. The type of core material affected the failure modes observed in the sandwich.