Dynamic Compression of Buffer Plates Impact by a High Velocity Sand Spray

Abstract

The response of back-supported buffer plates comprising a solid face sheet and foam core backing impacted by a column of high velocity particles (sand slug) is investigated via a lumped parameter model and coupled discrete/continuum simulations. The numerical calculations show that the momentum transfer is minimised for intermediate values of the core strength when the so-called “soft-catch” mechanism is at play. In this regime the bounce-back of the sand slug is minimised which reduces the momentum transfer. The results demonstrate that appropriately designed buffer plates have potential as impulse mitigators in landmine loading situations