Use of aluminum foam core sandwich structures to improve the blast-mitigation performance of light tactical vehicle side-vent-channel solution

Abstract

In our recent work, a side-vent-channel blast-mitigation concept/solution for light tactical vehicles was proposed. As a part of this solution, side-vent channels are attached to the V-shaped vehicle underbody, in order to promote venting of the soil ejecta and gaseous detonation products and, in turn, generate a downward thrust on the targeted light tactical vehicle. As a consequence, the blast loads resulting from a shallow-buried mine detonated underneath a light tactical vehicle are mitigated, improving the probability for vehicle survival. The concept was motivated by the principles of operation of the so-called ''pulse detonation'' rocket engines. To quantify the utility and blast-mitigation capacity of this concept, use was made of several computational and design optimization methods and tools in our prior work. It was found that the capacity of the proposed blast-mitigation solution is relatively small, but still noteworthy. The present work focuses on further improvements in the blast-mitigation capacity of the side-vent-channel solution. Specifically, the benefits offered by substitution of the all-steel side-vent channels with side-vent channels made of sandwich structures (consisting of steel face-sheets and aluminum foam core) for all-steel side-vent channels are explored. The results obtained clearly demonstrated that this substitution can improve the blast-mitigation efficiency of the side-vent-channel solution. In addition, through the use of a design optimization analysis, it was established that this improvement can be further increased through proper grading of the aluminum foam density profile through the sandwich structure core.

Design and analysis of lightweight stiffened honeycomb metallic sandwich panels under high-intensity air blast

“…The Mises circle in the deviatoric stress plane forms this yield surface. 23 Here, the hydrostatic yield stress ratio is K T, and compression yield stress ratio is K . These yield stress ratios are calculated by using equations (5) and (6): For valid surface: 0 < K < 3 and K T ≥ 0.…”

“…In the above equations, σ c 0, P t, and P c 0 represent the uniaxial compression, initial hydrostatic tensile yield strength, and the hydrostatic compressive yield strength, respectively. The flow potential ( G) is given by equation (7), which relates the pressure stress ( p) and Mises stress ( q) 23 : When the yield surface size changes along with the hydrostatic stress line, the development of the yield surface can be stated as follows 23 : Here, P c is the compressive strength, ε v o l .1em p l is the volumetric compacting plastic strain, and σ c is the absolute value of the yield strength in uniaxial compression. Due to zero plastic poisons ratio in uniaxial compression, ε a x i a l .1em p l = 0.25em ε v o l .1em p l considered.…”

Effect of processing parameters and heat treatment techniques on foaming properties of aluminium foam developed by friction stir processing route

“…Metal foam is a regular distribution of gas pores in a solid metal up to 98 percent volume fraction. 1,2 Due to the massive strong energy absorption ability, it can sustain high stresses. It may also be used in different applications such as energy absorption systems, aircraft, vehicles and structures due to its lightweight and strong compressive strength.…”

Experimental investigation on the perforation behaviour of sandwich panels with hybrid composite face sheets and cellular aluminium core using quasi-static and instrumented inverse impact methods

“…1–4 When compared to monolithic structures of equivalent weight, combined solutions such as sandwich panels, typically made up of thin, rigid front and back face sheets, and soft low-density core materials, have demonstrated attractive qualities in high strength-to-weight ratio and exceptional energy absorption capability. 5,6 Being used in the protection and shielding systems, 7–10 such sandwich structures can also be investigated under perforation to assess their performance against bullets, 11 fragments, 12 micrometeoroids and orbital debris 13 and other flying debris, generated from an improvised explosive device (IED). 14 Depending on the threat's nature and origin, the projectile velocities vary between different levels, from low 15 or intermediate 16 values to several hundreds of meters per second.…”