Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Aluminum-Polyethylene Composite Structure Subjected to Tension and Perforation Under Dynamic Loading for a Wide Range of Temperatures

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this work consists of identifying the material behavior of Alucobond composite structures subjected to ballistic impact. The composite is made of Aluminum alloy AW5005 and LDPE (low-density polyethylene). The mechanical properties of these materials are described in term of strain rate and temperature dependencies. Quasi-static tensile and compression tests for Alucobond are performed at four different strain rates, i.e. 0.0001 0.001, 0.01, and 0.03 $${s}^{-1}$$ s - 1 . Moreover, in dynamic regime the used strain rate ranges in compression and perforation tests are ($${10}^{4}$$ 10 4 $${s}^{-1}$$ s - 1 ≤ $$\dot{\varepsilon }$$ ε ˙ ≤ $${10}^{5}$$ 10 5 $${s}^{-1}$$ s - 1 ) at temperatures ranging from room temperature 20 °C to 100 °C. Various parameters influence the behavior of the Alucobond structure under impact: the geometry and the mechanical properties of the projectile, the initial impact velocity, and the thermomechanical behavior of the target. Numerous quasi-static and dynamic original test results (traction and perforation over a wide range of strain rates at room temperature and high temperature) are presented. Numerical simulations, particularly using the finite element (FE) method with the ABAQUS explicit code, are also effective supplements for theoretical and more detailed experimental investigations, which were carried out to analyze the dynamic behavior of impacted structures.