Experimental crashworthiness analysis of corrugated-core sandwich panels under impact loading

This research scrutinizes and contrasts the crashworthiness of single-core and two-core corrugated sandwich panels with varying configurations, influenced by crucial parameters like thickness, core angle, and foam filling. Experimental investigations encompass quasi-static compressive loads and low-velocity impact tests on these sandwich structures. Employing the design of the experiment (DOE) method, the study examines parameter impacts on initial peak crushing force (IPCF) and specific energy absorption (SEA) across three sequential steps. The fabrication phase involves creating square and trapezoidal aluminium sandwich panels bonded using specialized aluminium glue. The results notably highlight the pivotal role of corrugated sandwich panel thickness in enhancing crashworthiness, displaying a direct correlation between thickness and responses. Particularly, two-core configurations exhibit superior performance in reducing IPCF during low-velocity loading compared to other panels. These structures showcase exceptional capability in diminishing IPCF rates during low-velocity loading, surpassing even foam-filled panels and demonstrating superior crashworthiness among the tested configurations.