Analytical model of low-velocity impact penetration of sandwich panels with metal foam core and nanocomposite face sheets

This paper investigates the low-velocity penetration dynamic response of metal foam core sandwich panels with composite face sheets reinforced by nanoparticles. Based on the experimental results, an energy model is developed to predict contact force, impactor displacement, energy absorption, mechanisms of impact damage, and failure modes. An elastic-plastic-rigid (E-P-R) model is used to derive the energy absorbed by the metal foam. A stress function in terms of density ratio and strain is considered to predict the compression behavior of metal foam. The effect of nanoparticles investigated by the Halpin Tsai model. The analytical prediction is compared with the results of the experimental test and a reasonable agreement has been observed. The tested sandwich panel consisted of an aluminum foam core and an epoxy/carbon fiber face sheet reinforced with reduced graphene oxide (RGO). This model is useful for improving the design of sandwich panels with carbon fiber composite face sheet reinforced with nanoparticles and aluminum foam core. The results of impact test showed the addition of reduced oxide graphene increased the value of the first peak load by about 15%, the second peak load by about 36% and the amount of energy absorption in sandwich panel by about 18%. The radios of delamination and debonding reduced by 47% and 17.5%, respectively, compared to the sample without nanoparticles.