Dynamic Response of Fiber-Metal Laminates Sandwich Beams under Uniform Blast Loading

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Structural Engineering

Background:

• Fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) are advanced composite materials offering high strength-to-weight ratios.
• Understanding their dynamic response to extreme loading conditions like blast events is crucial for structural safety.
• Existing models may not fully capture the complex behavior of FML sandwich beams under such loads.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct theoretical and numerical investigations of the dynamic response of FML sandwich beams subjected to uniform blast loading.
• To develop and validate an analytical model for predicting maximum deflection and response time.
• To examine the influence of various material parameters on the structural behavior.

Main Methods:

• Development of an analytical model based on a modified rigid-plastic material model.
• Finite element analysis (FEA) using ABAQUS software for numerical simulations.
• Comparison of analytical predictions with FEA results to validate the model.

Main Results:

• Analytical solutions for maximum deflection and structural response time were obtained.
• Numerical simulations effectively corroborated the analytical predictions.
• Identified key parameters influencing dynamic response: metal volume fraction, inter-layer strength factors, and foam density.

Conclusions:

• The developed analytical model accurately forecasts the dynamic behavior of FML sandwich beams under blast loading.
• Material parameters significantly impact the structural response, providing insights for material design.
• Future work should focus on refined models incorporating material microstructure and failure mechanisms.