Experimental and numerical studies on low velocity impact performance of 1060 aluminum sheets

Low velocity impact performance of 1060 aluminum sheet is experimentally and numerically investigated in this work. Drop-weight impact experiments using a hemispherical impactor are conducted for 1060 aluminum sheets of three thicknesses. Critical rupture velocities of the aluminum sheets are determined. Energy absorption, damage mode and deflection of the aluminum sheets as well as impact force are analyzed. A material model combining a tabular description of plastic property with a progressive damage and failure model is developed for 1060 aluminum alloy, and the material parameters in the model are determined. A finite element model is established to simulate the low velocity impact response of 1060 aluminum sheet. Numerical simulation results are compared with the experimental results. The simulated critical rupture velocities and damage modes of aluminum sheets achieve a reasonable agreement with the corresponding experimental results. The present study can provide guidance to the design of 1060 aluminum alloy-based structural components and composite materials, and support the assessment of their impact performance.