Out-of-plane impact resistance of aluminium plates subjected to low velocity impacts

An experimental and numerical study has been conducted to study the deformation time history behaviour of square aluminium alloy AA5083-H116 plates supported by a bolted frame subjected to low velocity impact. A gas gun projectile launching system was used to strike a 37 mm diameter rigid bar at the centre of 300 mm × 300 mm square aluminium plates of 3 mm, 5 mm and 6 mm thicknesses with velocities in the range of 5–15 m/s. In this study, a finite element model (FEM) of the complete experimental setup has been developed and analysed. A high strain rate test program on aluminium alloys was carried out in order to obtain the material parameters for the Johnson–Cook material model that has been used for the FEM analysis. A modified analytical model has been presented by incorporating the non-linear strain hardening behaviour of the aluminium alloy. Good agreement of the deflection time histories has been found between the analytical predictions, numerical predictions and experimental observations. The modified analytical model predicts the plate’s central plastic deformation with reasonable accuracy.