Experimental and Numerical Study on Impact Resistance of Aluminum-Copper Cladded Sheets

Cladded multi-layer multi-material sheets are now extensively being used in different engineering fields. These sheets are well-known for their excellent mechanical and functional properties, corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. In the present study, low velocity impact of cladded two-layer sheets have been studied experimentally and numerically. The desired sheets were fabricated from aluminum AA1200 and copper (OFHC), and then, they were impacted at the impact energy of 45 J using two different impactor head shapes. The effect of stacking sequence of the constituent layers on the impact response of the cladded sheets was also investigated. Numerical modelling of the problem was carried out using finite element method where an energy-based rate-dependent damage model was developed and employed to model the behavior of the impacted sheets including damage initiation and evolution. The required rate constants were achieved using a direct experimental procedure as well as a calibration process via Genetic Algorithm. Accuracy of both the finite element modelling and developed damage model was admitted by comparing the numerical results with experimental ones. Moreover, the achieved results prove the advantage of the Al/Cu sheet over the Cu/Al one in terms of both the energy absorption and impact strength.