Close-in blast responses of bowstring fold-line-core sandwich panels

Abstract

Buildings, critical facilities, and military transport must maintain structural integrity when subjected to explosions. This research introduces a novel protective structure employing a bowstring design and curved sandwich panels featuring a fold-line-core designed to improve the explosion resistance of thin-walled panels. The dynamic responses and crushing modes of these bowstring fold-line-core sandwich panels were examined. The findings demonstrate that the bowstring fold-line-core sandwich panel effectively harnesses the self-supporting capacity of the bowstring structure alongside the energy absorption capabilities of the fold-line-core, resulting in exceptional anti-explosion performance. When subjected to a detonation of 200 g of TNT at a stand-off distance of 0.6 m, the designed panels exhibit minimal deformation. Moreover, the calculated proportional stand-off distance under corresponding operating conditions amounts to 1.026 kg/m1/3.