Using natural cellular materials to improve blast-wave protection

Abstract

Energy absorbing materials and systems incorporating materials such as foams or honeycomb structures are highly relevant in the design of blast protection systems. Systems with high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent energy absorption capacity under dynamic loading play an important role in defence systems. Sandwich structures, namely their cores, have the ability to sustain large deformations (strains) under constant load enabling them to absorb energy. After reaching their yield stress cellular materials exhibit a region of constant stress for increasing strain until densification is reached, allowing them to absorb considerable amounts of energy relative to their density. The authors incorporate a Micro-Agglomerate Cork (MAC) compound core between two aluminium alloy panels in order to combine the properties of light-weight materials with their high energy absorption capability. It is shown that the inclusion of the micro-agglomerate cork core increases the energy absorption capability of the protection structure under blast loading.