Experimental evaluation on the mitigation performance of double-layered Kirigami corrugated cladding against impact load

Abstract

The impact mitigation performance of novel single and double-layered kirigami corrugated (KC) claddings is investigated in this study via drop weight impact tests, as their significant improvements in energy absorption and crushing resistance were previously demonstrated over conventional corrugated structures. The feasibility of mass production on the proposed large-size KC core is also verified by applying conventional multi-stage mould pressing. A total of 15 different configurated single and double-layered KC cladding specimens are prepared and tested, where the effects of impacting speed, impacting mass, layer number, stacking configurations as well as graded design on the impact mitigation performance are considered. Impact force time histories, impact force-displacement curves, and transmitted force time histories at five different locations recorded using a custom-made measuring system are compared to evaluate the impact mitigating performance for the structure placed behind the proposed protective KC claddings. Transmitted force at centre is reduced by more than half as compared with the applied impact force for all double-layered KC claddings. Among the double-layered KC claddings, inverse symmetrically stacked KC cladding with no offset in the bottom layer, as well as the negatively graded KC claddings demonstrate a superior performance with a lower transmitted peak force at the centre and a more uniform force distribution transmitted to the support behind the claddings.