Numerical modelling of foam-cored sandwich plates under high-velocity impact

This paper studies the high-velocity impact response of sandwich plates, with E-glass fibre/polyester face-sheets and foam core, using finite-element models developed in ABAQUS/explicit code. The failure of the face-sheets was predicted by implementing Hou failure criteria and a procedure to degrade material properties in a user subroutine (VUMAT). The foam core was modelled as a crushable foam material. The numerical models were validated with experimental data obtained from scientific literature. The contribution of the foam core on the impact behaviour was evaluated by the analysis of the residual velocity, ballistic limit, and damaged area.