Modeling of hypervelocity impact on open cell foam core sandwich panels

Sandwich panels are widely used in the design of unmanned satellites and addition to having a structural function, can often serve as orbital debris shielding. In this application, sandwich with open-cell foam cores have significant advantage, enabling intensive interaction between impactor fragments ligaments which enhances fragments’ breakdown reduces their damaging potential. Modeling process requires an explicit meso-scale representation core material. study, realistic geometry models were obtained for 10 ppi 20 8% aluminum foams using X-ray Computed Tomography imaging. They then converted into meshless simulation modeling 6.9 km/s particles impact on panels. Results numerical simulations compared experimental data reported by NASA terms panels’ rear facesheet damage.