Dynamic response of aluminum matrix syntactic foams sandwich panel subjected to foamed aluminum projectile impact loading

Using a gas gun driven high-speed aluminum metal foam projectile, we investigated experimentally the dynamic responses of the solid steel plate, the aluminum matrix syntactic foam sandwich panel and the aluminum foam sandwich panel, whose front and back plates made both from the Q235 steel, under the impact loading. The experimental results showed that using metal foam projectile impact can simulate the explosion load, that the deformation of the sandwich panel can be divided into two stages, i.e. the core compression and the global deformation, and that the shock resistance of the aluminum matrix syntactic foam sandwich panel is stronger than that of the solid steel plate and the aluminum foam sandwich panel. Based on the experiments, we also performed the corresponding finite element simulations using the LS-DYNA software. The simulation results showed that the velocity and the length of the metal foam projectile have obvious effect on the contact force, revealing a linear relationship. The core foam's strength has an obvious effect on the equal-mass and equal-thickness sandwich panel's shock-resistance behaviors. As the sandwich panel's deflection is sensitive to the thickness of the front and the back plate, the deflection of the panel will decrease if the thickness of the back plate is bigger than that of the front plate. The recommended material for the plate should be of low-stiffness, high-ductility and high tensile fracture strain.