Metallic lattice materials have shown promise for lightweight sandwich panels that provide protection against blast and shock propagation. However, little is known of their dynamic spall characteristics (when shock-compressed) and their collapse under dynamic loading. Using a plate-impact technique, where a shock is imparted to the face-plate of a sandwich structure, the collapse of a cellular structure can be interrogated with the response of the structure being monitored in real-time using piezo-resistive gauges and Heterodyne velocimeter (Het-v) techniques (a laserbased Doppler-shift technique used to track velocities of surfaces or interfaces).
In addition to the experimental approach summarised above, it is expected that a modelling approach will be adopted using LS DYNA to enhance our understanding of the physics of collapse with special attention given to micro-lattices. The novelty of this PhD research package will be to (a) optimise designs of cellular structures to maximise the energy absorption and shock mitigation; (b) enhance our understanding of the physics of lattice collapse; and (c) examine their failure characteristics when a tensile pulse is subsequently applied.
It is intended that new designs of blast mitigating structures will result.
