Enhancement mechanisms of aluyminum foam-filled metallic corrugated sandwich panels

Abstract:

Aluminum foam-filled corrugated sandwich panels were fabricated by filling closed cell aluminum foam into the spaces of empty corrugated cores, and its out-of-plane compressive behaviors were investigated experimentally which showing significant coupling enhancement effects. The peak stress per unit mass and specific energy absorption (SEA) of the foam-filled panels could be as large as 6.3 and 14.8 times compared to that of the corresponding empty one. Compared to aluminum foam which have excellent energy absorption performances, SEA already have advantages with increasment of 50%. Peak compressive strength of corrugated panels varies with relative density were predicted theorically, and showing that the buckling model of the corrugated core web changed from low order to high order due to foam filling. The high order have shorter wavelength compared to the lower one and requires much larger compressive load to occur, therefore, a significant coupling enhancement effect was caused.