Study on Anti-Penetration Performance of Porous Metal Sandwich Composite Structures

This paper focus on the anti-penetration performance of a multilayered composite target. Composite targets with six structures have been considered. The study starts with a composite target (structure I and II). Composite target structures with different material arrangement sequence were designed and the anti-penetration test was performed. The mechanisms of plastic deformation and anti-penetration energy dissipation were analyzed. Then, in order to improve the protective performance and reduce the ceramics damage, a series of impact tests, for different composite structures, was conducted using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar. A numerical model was established and verified by the experimental results. Based on this model, numerical simulation was conducted for prototypes with different configurations. The characteristics of stress wave propagation and distribution in composite structure were studied. For aluminum foam sandwich structure, the stress concentration of ceramic was greatly reduced due to the energy absorption of aluminum foam. According to simulation results, aluminum foam sandwich composite target (structure III and IV) was prepared and its anti-penetration test was performed. Although the anti-penetration performance was not greatly affected, the resistance to multiple strikes resulted in being greatly enhanced due to the damage area of the ceramic was reduced. Eventually, in order to analyze the effect of sandwich materials on the anti-penetration performance of composite targets, a novel composite target with metal rubber sandwich composite structure (structure V and VI) was developed. The anti-penetration test results indicated that, the proposed target exhibited better protective performance compared with aluminum foam sandwich composite target. This was because metal rubber allowed energy absorption, but a higher yield strength than aluminum foam.