Experimental and Numerical Study on the Impact Response of Composite Sandwich Structures with Different Cores

This study analyzes the impact mechanical response of sandwich structures with foam and wood cores through experimental and numerical methods. The aim is to determine whether a sustainable core material, such as cork wood, can serve as a reliable alternative to the commonly used Polystyrene (PS) foam core in sandwich structures. Impact experiments were conducted at varying energy levels using an INSTRON CEAST 9350 drop tower, demonstrating the superiority of sandwich structures compared to single-material alternatives. Numerical models were developed in ABAQUS, where glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite panels were represented using solid element C3D8R and the 3D Hashin failure criteria, which were incorporated via the user subroutine VUMAT. The results indicate that the contact force of the sandwich structure with a wood core surpassed that of the foam core counterpart. In both sandwich structures, damage initially occurred at the impact point on the surface, leading to plastic deformation and damage within the core, while the composite panel on the rear surface ultimately failed. These findings provide valuable insights for designers, enabling parametric studies to select appropriate core materials that enhance the impact resistance of sandwich structures.