The impact responses and the finite element modeling of layered trapezoidal corrugated aluminum core and aluminum sheet interlayer sandwich structures

The impact responses of brazed and adhesively bonded layered 1050 H14 trapezoidal corrugated aluminum core and aluminum sheet interlayer sandwich panels with 3003 and 1050 H14 aluminum alloy face sheets were investigated in a drop weight tower using spherical, flat and conical end striker tips. The full geometrical models of the tests were implemented using the LS-DYNA. The panels tested with spherical and flat striker tips were not penetrated and experienced slightly higher deformation forces and energy absorptions in 0 degrees/90 degrees corrugated layer orientation than in 0 degrees/0 degrees orientation. However, the panels impacted using a conical striker tip were penetrated/perforated and showed comparably smaller deformation forces and energy absorptions, especially in 0 degrees/90 degrees layer orientation. The simulation and experimental force values were shown to reasonably agree with each other at the large extent of deformation and revealed the progressive fin folding of corrugated core layers and bending of interlayer sheets as the main deformation mechanisms. The experimentally and numerically determined impact velocity sensitivity of the tested panels was attributed to the micro inertial effects which increased the critical buckling loads of fin layers at increasingly high loading rates. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.