Numerical investigation on the dynamic response of foam-filled corrugated core sandwich panels subjected to air blast loading

The ANSYS/Autodyn software was employed to investigate the dynamic responses of foam-filled corrugated core sandwich panels under air blast loading. The panels were assembled from metallic face sheets and corrugated webs, and PVC foam inserts with different filling strategies. To calibrate the proposed numerical model, the simulation results were compared with experimental data reported previously. The response of the panels was also compared with that of the empty (unfilled) sandwich panels. Numerical results show that the fluid–structure interaction effect was dominated by front face regardless of the foam fillers. Foam filling would reduce the level of deformation/failure of front face, but did not always decrease the one of back face. It is found that the blast performance in terms of the plastic deflections of the face sheets can be sorted as the following sequence: fully filled hybrid panel, front side filled hybrid panel, back side filled hybrid panel, and the empty sandwich panel. Investigation into energy absorption characteristic revealed that the front face and core web provided the most contribution on total energy absorption. A reverse order of panels was obtained when the maximization of total energy dissipation was used as the criteria of blast performance.