Title: Using natural cellular materials to improve blast-wave protection

Authors: J. Sousa-Martins, F. Teixeira-Dias

Addresses: GRIDS-DAPS Division of Armour & Protection Systems, Dep. Engenharia Mecanica, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitario de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. ' GRIDS-DAPS Division of Armour & Protection Systems, Dep. Engenharia Mecanica, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitario de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

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.

Keywords: sandwich panels; blast loading; blast waves; energy absorption; cellular materials; numerical simulation; finite element method; FEM; cork; blast wave protection; stress; aluminium alloys; lightweight materials; protection structures; explosions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2011.039507

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2011 Vol.2 No.2, pp.165 - 178

Published online: 26 Mar 2015 *

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