Repeated localized impulsive loading on monolithic and multi-layered metallic plates

Abstract

Abstract The objective of the current study is to numerically investigate the effect of repeated localized impulsive loading on the performance and dynamic plastic response of monolithic and multi-layered circular plate configurations made of either high- and low-strength aluminum or steel or a combination of these materials in the impulse range of 12.5–30 N s. For this, several numerical models were developed using ABAQUS/Explicit commercial FEM software via a FORTRAN subroutine VDLOAD in combination with the Johnson-Cook thermoviscoplastic constitutive relation, as well as the Johnson-Cook damage model. In order to validate the numerical models, the available experimental results on monolithic and multi-layered plate configurations under single localized load were used. Afterward, 18 different numerical models and 96 various cases including monolithic, double- and triple-layered plate configurations with an equivalent areal density subjected to five consecutive loads, were employed. The numerical simulation results indicated that a double-layered mixed configuration with a thin back steel layer and a thick front aluminum layer performs better compared to other configurations made of similar and dissimilar materials at higher impulses subjected to multiple impulsive loading, particularly while steel and aluminum materials have lower strength.