Failure mechanisms of asymmetric sandwich panels subjected to low-velocity impact: An explicit wave dominating damage model

Abstract

Asymmetric sandwich panels (ASPs) with tapered transitions are effective configurations for connecting them with other structural elements. However, fiber reinforced composite panels are susceptible to impact events and thus it is imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact failure mechanisms of ASPs. This article investigates the failure mechanisms of ASPs subjected to low-velocity impacts experimentally and numerically. Low-velocity impact tests are conducted at two energy levels to induce barely visible impact damage (BVID) and visible impact damage (VID). A non-linear finite element (FE) model is developed to elucidate the damage behavior and failure mechanisms of ASPs. The numerical results are compared with experimental data to validate the FE model. Additionally, a parametric study is undertaken to explore the failure mechanisms of ASPs subjected to penetration. This study also investigates the influence of impactor diameter, impactor angle, foam core thickness, face sheet stacking sequence, and face sheet thickness on impact response through numerical simulations. The reported results hold potential significance for safety design ASPs.

Keywords:

• Asymmetric sandwich panels
• impact
• failure mechanism
• glass fibers
• finite element analysis

Acknowledgements

The test specimens were supplied by Fesher Aviation Component (Zhenjiang) Company Limited, China.

Disclosure statement

No potential competing interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the [National Natural Science Foundation of China] under Grant [No. 12002157, 52005256], the [China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Funded Project] under Grant [No. 2022M721609], the [National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China] under Grant [No. 2021YFF0501800], and the [Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities] under Grant [No. NT2022001].