Experimental and numerical analysis of dynamic response of graded PVC foam sandwich panel under impact load

Abstract

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam sandwich panels have a wide application prospect in the field of warship impact protection due to the low moisture absorption, low density, excellent energy consumption and chemical resistance of PVC foam. The dynamic response of layered density-graded PVC foam sandwich panel under impact load was experimentally and numerically investigated here. A three-layer PVC foam sandwich specimen was designed and fabricated. The graded strategy of foam core was achieved by setting various foam layers with different densities. A large-diameter split-Hopkinson pressure bar device was used to perform the experimental study. The effect of density-graded strategy of foam core on the transmitted force, transmitted impulse and energy absorption were discussed. The software ANSYS/LS-DYNA was used to simulate the dynamic impact test of the foam sandwich structure. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results. The results reveal that, the order of the core layer of density-graded sandwich panel has little effect on the impact resistance of the structure, while the impact resistance can be improved by increasing the density difference between foam layers. The uniform configuration UD has the largest impact force and the most specific energy absorption, while the large gradient configuration large gradient configuration has the smallest transmitted impulse under various impact velocities of the projectile. Thus, large gradient configuration has better protection effect.