Dynamic response of cylindrical sandwich shells with metallic foam cores under blast loading—Numerical simulations

Deformation/failure modes, blast resistance and energy absorption of metallic cylindrical sandwich shells with closed-cell aluminum foam cores were investigated in this paper. A brief of experimental result on the dynamic response of blast-loaded sandwich shells was firstly reported. Based on the experiments, corresponding finite element simulations have been undertaken by employing the LS-DYNA software. Numerical simulation results show a good agreement on the deformation/failure modes and back face-sheet center-point deflection of specimens, with those of experimental results. Results indicate that the deformation/failure, deflection response and energy absorption of sandwich shells are sensitive to the loading intensity and geometric configuration. Energy absorption capability of specimens is monotonically increasing and decreasing with the increase of impulse level and core relative density, respectively. However, it does not change monotonically with the face-sheet thickness of specimens. These simulation findings are worthy of the theoretical study and optimal design of metallic sandwich structures under air blast loading.