Equipment for Impact Testing of Sandwich Panels

Abstract

This article describes test equipment for testing localized, penetrating impact on sandwich panels. The sandwich panels in question are 500 500 mm2 with a typical thickness of 40-55 mm. The impact velocities are in the region 50-130 m/s, with an impactor mass between 0.5 and 1 kg, and an impactor diameter of 50 mm. The above parameters correspond to localized impact on train fronts, airplanes at take-off and landing, cars and similar. A series of 7 impact tests on identical sandwich panels at varying velocities is described.