Experimental and numerical analysis of quasi-static and dynamic perforation of hierarchical AAC core composite sandwich panels

Abstract

The rising demand for lightweight, economical, and durable materials has generated heightened interest in using cementitious materials to construct composite sandwich panels (CSPs). Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), a fundamental component in the construction industry due to its lightness, low cost, sound insulation, shock absorbent, and fire and corrosion resistance, is an efficient candidate for CSP. This paper offers a thorough experimental and numerical examination of AAC-based hierarchical multicore CSPs under quasi-static indentation and high-velocity impact (HVI) loading. Three panel configurations, including single-core, double-core, and triple-core, were constructed by thermosetting, utilizing woven E/glass fiber fabric sheets and AAC cores. Thereafter, experiments were tested to evaluate their energy absorption and perforation behavior. Experimental findings demonstrated that double-core panels displayed superior specific energy absorption (SEA) load-bearing capability under quasi-static and HVI loading conditions, surpassing single and triple-core configurations. The principal energy absorption methods comprised core crushing, fiber pull-out, and delamination, which were affected by the core topology and face sheet thickness. Numerical simulations by LS-DYNA were validated logically versus experimental results with deviations around 10 %, affirming the efficacy of the FEM in accurately representing damage responses and failure mechanisms. This work illustrates that multicore AAC-based CSPs provide superior structural performance and impact resistance, especially in arrangements featuring several cores. The results offer significant insights into the design of lightweight, impact-resistant composite structures for use in aerospace, defense, and construction sectors.