Nondestructive Evaluation of Aluminium Foam Panels Subjected to Impact Loading

Aluminium foam sandwich structures have excellent energy absorption capacity, combined with good mechanical properties and low density. Some of the authors this paper proposed an innovative Metallic Foam Shell protective device against flying ballast impact damage in railway axles. A closed-cell aluminium was chosen for device. The main goal study experimental investigation responses panels. Low velocity tests were carried out at different energies on types panels order to investigate effects some parameters, such as core thickness, skin material layer. Tests conducted repeated impacts without skins made glass fibre-reinforced polymer. results compared impacted investigated by means nondestructive techniques ultrasonic phased array digital radiography.