Performance assessment of rigid polyurethane foam core sandwich panels under blast loading

The performance of rigid polyurethane foams, as an energy absorbent core of sandwich panels covered with two exterior steel sheets, was investigated numerically through finite element methods. After verifying the finite element model, numerical studies were conducted to investigate the role of thickness and density of the foam layer in the response behavior of sandwich panels under blast loads. A set of cylindrical polyurethane foam specimens were manufactured at five different nominal densities, 90, 140, 175, 220, and 250 kg/m(3), and their stress-strain curves were evaluated using uniaxial compression tests. The test data were then employed to define characteristics of the polyurethane foams in the finite element model. Based on the results of finite element analysis runs, the optimum density of the foam layer was determined by assessing two response parameters including the peak pressure transmitted to the back face of the foam layer and the maximum deflection of sandwich panel. These response parameters were found to be affected differently by variations in the density of the foam layer within the panel. An increase in the thickness of the foam layer, to a certain extent, was found to be beneficial to the mitigation capability of sandwich panel.