Impact loading performance of polymer foam core aluminium sandwich panels

Abstract

In this study, two different foam core aluminum face sheets sandwich panels were developed. The core materials were selected as expanded polypropylene (EPP) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) foams. Two aluminum face sheets and foam cores were combined with flexible epoxy-based adhesives, under 20 N static compression load. The average density of the produced sandwich panels was 0.39 g/cm(3) for EPP foam core sandwich and 0.33 g/cm(3) for XPS foam core sandwich panel. Produced specimens were subjected 3-point bending experiments under impact loading. Damage behavior of the sandwiches was observed using post-mortem pictures. The results show that the produced sandwiches damaged perfectly plastic deformations with face sheets and core. There was not any adhesive and cohesive failure in the core and face sheets interfaces.