Deformation and failure mechanism of dynamically loaded sandwich beams with aluminum-foam core

In this paper the response and failure of dynamically loaded sandwich beams with an aluminum-foam core is investigated experimentally. The dynamic compressive stress-strain curves of the core material, an open-cell aluminum foam, are obtained by an SHPB technique. No strain-rate sensitivity is found. Quasi-static and dynamic bending tests are carried out for sandwich beams made of aluminum skins with an aluminum foam core. The deformation and failure mechanism are revealed by 'frozen' test using stop blocks. It is found that due to large local indentation and damage the energy absorbing capacity of beams loaded dynamically is lower than that for quasi-static loading. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.