Dynamic response and failure of sandwich plates with PVC foam core subjected to impulsive loading

This paper presents an experimental study on dynamic response of clamped sandwich plates with PVC foam core subjected to lab-scale impulsive loading. DIC-3D method and post-test are presented to investigate the permanent deformation, dynamic response and failure modes of the plates. Failure modes of PVC foam layers with three densities as well as front and rear metallic sheets are identified and discussed. Comparison methodologies concerning the blast resistance and energy absorption performance of four configurations in same mass with three densities and thicknesses are carried out. It is indicated that configuration 3 performs well in reducing permanent deformation of structure, and configuration 1 performs well in protecting the structure from destruction and have advantage in blast resistance under high impulsive intensity. The descending order of core densities have advantage in blast resistance than the core with ascending order of densities. Choosing the most efficient density, thickness and sequence of core layers is very helpful in structural optimization design, and especially in blast resistance for a prescribed load.