Local water slamming impact on sandwich composite hulls

The local water slamming refers to the impact of a part of a ship hull on stationary water for a short duration during which high local pressures occur on the hull. We simulate slamming impact of rigid and deformable hull bottom panels by using the coupled Lagrangian and Eulerian formulation included in the commercial software LS-DYNA. We use the Lagrangian formulation to describe plane-strain deformations of the hull panel and consider geometric nonlinearities. The Eulerian formulation is used to analyze deformations of the water. Deformations of the hull panel and of the water are coupled through the hydrodynamic pressure exerted by water on the hull, and the velocity of particles on the hull wetted surface affecting deformations of the water. The continuity of surface tractions and the inter-penetrability of water into the hull are satisfied by using a penalty method. The computer code is verified by showing that the computed pressure distributions for water slamming on rigid panels agree well with those reported in the literature. The pressure distributions computed for deformable panels are found to differ from those obtained by using a plate theory and Wagner's slamming impact theory. We have also delineated jet flows near the edges of the wetted hull, and studied delamination induced in a sandwich composite panel due to the hydroelastic pressure.     

Low-velocity impact of sandwich composite plates

In this paper we investigate impact and compression after impact properties of plain weave carbon fiber sandwich composites. Impact tests were conducted on different sample types to obtain information about absorbed energy and maximum impact force. The different samples consisted of foam-filled and hollow honeycomb cores with four-layer carbon fiber facesheets on one or both sides. The impact and compression after impact data provided valuable information to allow for comparisons between the different sample types. Also, the compression after impact tests were conducted in order to determine the reduction in compressive strength when comparing impacted to non-impacted samples. In conclusion, a two-degrees-of-freedom spring/mass model was compared to experimental results. The comparison helped illustrate the limitations of current impact theory. This paper was presented, in part, at a symposium honoring Dr Christian P. Burger, Novel Applications of Experimental Methods in Mechanics, held at the 2003 SEM Annual Conference and Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics, June 2–4, 2003, Charlotte, North Carolina.     

Low-energy impact response of composite and sandwich composite plates with piezoelectric sensory layers

An efficient model reduction based methodology is presented for predicting the global (impact force, plate deflection and electric potential) and through-thickness local (interfacial strains and stresses) dynamic response of pristine simply-supported cross-ply composite and sandwich composite plates with piezoelectric sensory layers subjected to low-energy impact. The through-thickness response of the laminate is modelled using coupled higher-order layerwise displacement-based piezoelectric laminate theories. Linearized contact laws are implemented for simulating the impactor–target interaction during impact. The stiffness, mass, piezoelectric and permittivity matrices of the plate are formulated from ply to structural level and reduced by applying a Guyan reduction technique to yield the structural system in state space. This reduction technique enables the formulation of a plate–impactor structural system of minimum size (1 term per vibration mode for composite plates – 2 terms for sandwich plates) and reduces computational cost, thus facilitating applicability for real-time impact and vibration control.     

The dynamic response of composite sandwich beams to transverse impact

The dynamic response of glass fibre–vinylester composite beams is measured by impacting the beams at mid-span with metal foam projectiles. The beams exist in composite monolithic form, and in sandwich configuration with composite face-sheets and a core made from PVC foam or end-grain balsa wood. High-speed photography is used to measure the transient transverse deflection of the beams and to record the dynamic modes of deformation and failure. For both monolithic and sandwich configurations, a flexural wave travels from the impact site towards the supports. Ultimate failure of the monolithic and sandwich beams is by tensile tearing of the faces. The sandwich beams also exhibit cracking of the core, and face-sheet delamination. The dynamic strength of the beams is quantified by the maximum transient transverse deflection at mid-span of the beams as a function of projectile momentum. It is demonstrated that sandwich beams can outperform monolithic beams of equal mass. The trade-off between core strength and core thickness is such that a low density PVC foam core outperforms a higher density PVC foam core. End-grain balsa wood has a superior stiffness and strength to that of PVC foam in compression and in shear. Consequently, sandwich beams with a balsa core outperform beams with a PVC foam core for projectiles of low momentum. The order reverses at high values of projectile momentum: the sandwich beams with a balsa wood core fail prematurely in longitudinal shear by splitting along the grain.     

Mechanical characteristics of composite honeycomb sandwich structures under oblique impact

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and CFRP-based composite honeycomb sandwich structures are particularly sensitive to impact. The mechanical characteristics of composite honeycomb sandwich structures under oblique impact are studied by numerical simulation and experiment. The oblique impact model is established, and the reliability of the model is verified by the oblique impact test. To further analyze the influence of structural parameters on energy absorption under oblique impact, the influence of impact angle, face sheet thickness and wall thickness of the honeycomb is numerically studied. The results show that the impact angle has an important effect on energy distribution. The structural parameters also have an effect on the peak contact force, contact time, and energy absorption, and the effect is different from normal impact due to the presence of frictional dissipation energy. Compared with normal impact, the debonding of oblique impact will be reduced, but the buckling range of the honeycomb core will be expanded.     

Delamination in sandwich panels due to local water slamming loads

We study delamination in a sandwich panel due to transient finite plane strain elastic deformations caused by local water slamming loads and use the boundary element method to analyze motion of water and the finite element method to determine deformations of the panel. The cohesive zone model is used to study delamination initiation and propagation. The fluid is assumed to be incompressible and inviscid, and undergo irrotational motion. A layer-wise third order shear and normal deformable plate/shell theory is employed to simulate deformations of the panel by considering all geometric nonlinearities (i.e., all non-linear terms in strain–displacement relations) and taking the panel material to be St. Venant–Kirchhoff (i.e., the second Piola–Kirchhoff stress tensor is a linear function of the Green–St. Venant strain tensor). The Rayleigh damping is introduced to account for structural damping that reduces oscillations in the pressure acting on the panel/water interface. Results have been computed for water entry of (i) straight and circular sandwich panels made of Hookean materials with and without consideration of delamination failure, and (ii) flat sandwich panels made of the St. Venant–Kirchhoff materials. The face sheets and the core of sandwich panels are made, respectively, of fiber reinforced composites and soft materials. It is found that for the same entry speed (i) the peak pressure for a curved panel is less than that for a straight panel, (ii) the consideration of geometric nonlinearities significantly increases the peak hydrodynamic pressure, (iii) delamination occurs in mode-II, and (iv) the delamination reduces the hydroelastic pressure acting on the panel surface and hence alters deformations of the panel.     

双层夹芯复合材料结构横向冲击响应实验

采用玻璃纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料层合板作为内、外面板,以PVC泡沫作为芯材,构造了双层夹芯复合材料结构。采用落锤冲击实验,得到了冲击过程的撞击力历史;研究了在不同的冲击能量下,双层夹芯结构的冲击响应及内面板位置对双层夹芯结构冲击响应的影响。实验结果表明,内面板的引入及内面板的位置显著影响双层夹芯结构的撞击力历史,根据该撞击力历史可以优化设计出抗冲击性能优异的新型双层夹芯复合材料结构。     

Indentation failure in composite sandwich structures

A combined analytical and experimental investigation of the indentation failure of a composite sandwich panel has been undertaken. Two cases have been studied: a sandwich panel with carbon/epoxy facing and a PVC foam layer supported on a rigid base and indented at the center with a cylindrical indentor; and a sandwich beam with symmetrical facing and core materials as in the sandwich panels. The load-deflection behavior of the loaded facing was monitored during the test. Strains were also measured near the load on both surfaces of the facing using embedded strain gages. A full-field analysis of the in-plane displacements in the foam was conducted using the moiré method. The problem was modeled as an elastic beam resting on an elastic-plastic foundation. Initiation of indentation failure occurs when the foundation yields, while catastrophic failure takes place when the compression facing fractures. The experimental results are in good agreement with the results of the analytical modeling based on the Winkler foundation.     

Dynamic buckling and plastic collapse of rectangular strips under axial slamming impact

The dynamic buckling and plastic collapse of elastic-plastic rectangular strips under axial slamming impact are investigated experimentally. The dynamic response of the specimens is measured by several back-to-back paris of strain gages located at different positions. According to the experimental records, the compressive and bending motions of the rectangular strips are analyzed. The strips exhibit three different critical dynamic conditions: buckling, plastic incipience and plastic collapse. Based on the response characters, three criteria are proposed which completely define the elastic-plastic dynamic behavior of rectangular strips under axial slamming impact with loading durations ranging from 14 to 18 milliseconds. These conditions are estimated by introducing three critical axial compressive strains. Moreover, the effect of geometric imperfection on the dynamic behavior of the strips is discussed.     

The composite damping capacity of sandwich cantilever beams

The governing equation of the flexural forced vibration of a cantilever sandwich beam excited by a sinusoidal displacement at the clamped end is developed by utilizing the conventional Hamilton's Principle. The effect of damping of the composite beam is incorporated into the elastic equation of motion by utilizing the Correspondence Principle of the linear viscoelastic theory. Several plots for different values of the composite damping factor are presented. For comparison, an experimental setup was utilized to test different composite beams. The variation of the experimental results with those derived theoretically seem to be in agreement within the frequency range of the first few modes.     

Nonlinear behavior of composite sandwich beams in three-point bending

The load-deflection behavior of a composite sandwich beam in three-point bending was investigated. The beam was made of unidirectional carbon/epoxy facings and a polyvinyl chloride closed-cell foam core. The load-deflection curves were plotted up to the point of failure initiation. They consist of an initial linear part followed by a nonlinear portion. A nonlinear mechanics of materials analysis that accounts for the combined effect of the nonlinear behavior of the facings and core materials (material nonlinearity) and the large deflections of the beam (geometric nonlinearity) was developed. The theoretical predictions were in good agreement with the experimental results. It was found that the effect of material nonlinearity on the deflection of the beam is more pronounced for shear-dominated core failures in the case of short span lengths. It is due to the nonlinear shear stress-strain behavior of the core. For long span lengths, the observed nonlinearity is small and is attributed to the combined effect of the facings nonlinear stress-strain behavior and the large deflections of the beam.     

Failure behavior of composite sandwich structures under local loading

Usually when analyzing the mechanical response of foam-cored fiber-reinforced composite sandwich structures to localized static loading, the face sheets are treated as a linear-elastic material and no damage initiation and growth is considered. However, practice shows that at higher indentation magnitudes damage develops in the face sheet in the area of contact with the indentor, which could lead to local failure of the face laminate due to the loss of bending stiffness and strength. Therefore, the main objective of the present study is to develop a damage model for predicting the local failure in the composite face sheet and its influence on the load–displacement behavior of sandwich structures under local loading. For this purpose, the Hoffman failure criterion is incorporated into a finite element modeling procedure using the ABAQUS program system. Results deducted from the modeling procedure are compared with experimental data obtained in the case of static indentation tests performed on sandwich beam specimens using steel cylindrical indentors. It is shown that taking into account the damage in the face sheet leads to a substantial improvement in the performance of the model when simulating the mechanical behavior of the sandwich structures at higher indentation values.     

Higher-order impact modeling of sandwich structures with flexible core

In this study, a higher-order impact model is presented to simulate the response of a soft-core sandwich beam subjected to a foreign object impact. A free vibration problem of sandwich beams is first solved, and the results are validated by comparing with numerical finite element modeling results of ABAQUS and the solution by Frostig and Baruch [Frostig, Y., Baruch, M., 1994. Free vibration of sandwich beams with a transversely flexible core: a high order approach. Journal of Sound and Vibration 176(2), 195–208]. Then a foreign object impact process is incorporated in the higher-order model, and the contact force and deflection history as well as the propagation of transverse normal, shear, and axial stresses during the impact are analyzed and discussed. The validity of the model in the impact response predictions is demonstrated by comparing with finite element solutions of LS-DYNA. The calculated stresses caused by a foreign object impact are then used to assess failure locations, failure time, and failure modes in sandwich beams, which are shown to compare well with the available experimental results. The effects of impact mass, initial velocity, core stiffness, and core height on the impact stresses generated in the beams are discussed. The influences of impact mass and initial velocity on the contact force history are close to those by the linearized impact solution, but the proposed higher-order impact model captures the non-linear impact process and different generated stresses. Compared to the fully backed sandwich case, the core height shows a great influence over the impact process of a simply supported sandwich system, in which the global behavior of the sandwich is dominant; while the core stiffness shows minor effect over the impact process. The higher-order impact model of sandwich beams developed in the study provides accurate predictions of the generated stresses and impact process and can be used effectively in design analysis of anti-impact structures made of sandwich materials.     

冰雹撞击下泡沫铝夹芯板的动态响应

在传统单层泡沫夹芯结构的上、下面板之间插入中面板,通过移动中面板的位置,获得了外形尺寸相同、质量相等的5种构型夹芯结构,其上层芯材与芯材总厚度比分别为0:30、10:30、15:30、20:30和30:30。在量纲分析的基础上,应用非线性动力有限元程序LS-DYNA对5种构型夹芯结构进行了冰雹撞击数值分析,研究了中面板位置对夹芯板的能量吸收、能量耗散和动态响应的影响。结果表明:中面板的存在对下层芯材能形成有效的保护;随着中面板位置由上向下移动,夹芯板的抗撞击性能呈现由大到小再增大的态势。数值计算结果对抗冰雹撞击夹芯结构的优化设计具有一定的参考价值。     

蜂窝夹芯雷达罩结构的鸟撞数值分析

运用非线性动力学有限元软件PAM-CRASH对鸟撞击蜂窝夹芯结构雷达罩的过程进行了数值分析。在有限元建模中对材料模型的选取做了详细的讨论。根据适航标准,使用1.80 kg的鸟体进行鸟撞分析。在不考虑材料应变率强化作用的情况下,计算了鸟体对结构上21个不同位置的撞击,给出了雷达罩结构吸收冲击能量随撞击位置的变化规律。对玻璃纤维面板材料的应变率强化作用进行讨论,对比分析了应变率强化作用对计算结果的影响,数值模拟结果可为雷达罩鸟撞实验提供参考。     

复合材料夹层结构在舰艇碰撞防护中的研究进展

为了提高舰艇的碰撞防护能力,已发展了各种舰艇碰撞防护方法。传统的碰撞防护手段会使舰艇重量大幅增加,影响舰艇总体性能。复合材料夹层结构的出现给舰艇碰撞防护结构设计提供了另外一条途径,成为近期国内外相关研究的热点。本文以舰艇碰撞防护为背景,从复合材料夹层结构的低速冲击实验方法、变形损伤机理、冲击吸能影响因素、分析研究方法等几方面进行回顾、总结和归纳,并对今后的研究方向进行展望。