LOW VELOCITY IMPACT RESPONSE OF GLASS FIBER REINFORCED ALUMINIUM FOAM SANDWICH

The aim of this study was the analysis of the bending and the low - velocity impact response of aluminium foam sandwich reinforced by the outer skins made of glass fiber reinforced epoxy matrix and the results were compared with those obtained for aluminium foam sandwiches without glass fiber skins. Static bending tests were carried on panels with the same nominal size at different support span distances in order to analyze the collapse modes and their capacity of absorbing energy, while the energy amount absorbed under dynamic loading was evaluated by means of impact tests. The experimental investigation has particular importance for applications which require lightweight structures with a high capacity of energy dissipation, such as transport industries.