Experimental damage evaluation of honeycomb sandwich structures with Al/B4C FGM face plates under high velocity impact loads

In this experimental study, high velocity impact behavior of honeycomb sandwich structures with Al6061/B4C FGM face plates subjected to 0.30 caliber fragment simulating projectile impact was investigated via a single-stage gas gun. The material composition of the FGM face plates was represented according to a power-law variation through the plate thickness. The specimens were produced for six types of face plates, Al6061 and five different FGM face plates from metal-rich to ceramic-rich composition. Impact test results of the specimens were evaluated in terms of their damage and deformation mechanisms. The test results stated that the material composition variation of the FGM face plates was a highly influential parameter for damage modes, energy absorbing capacity, and impact resistance of the sandwich structure, and the honeycomb core contributed to the energy absorbing capacity of the sandwich structure with the plastic buckling of the cell walls and lateral crushing deformations.