Penetration and Perforation of Composite Sandwich Panels by Hemispherical and Conical Projectiles

The results of penetration and perforation tests carried out on composite sandwich panels with GRP skins and PVC foam cores using hemispherical-ended and conical-nosed indenters/projectiles under quasi-static, drop-weight, and ballistic impact conditions, with impact velocities up to 305 m/s, are described. Load-displacement characteristics under quasi-static loading are presented and the ballistic limits as well as perforation energies are determined. A classification of the sandwich panel responses based on the panel thickness-to-projectile diameter ratio is deduced. General empirical formulas that predict the dynamic perforation energies for FRP laminates and composite sandwich panels loaded by hemispherical-ended projectiles are derived. The empirical equations correlate well with available experimental data. It is shown that, to a first approximation, the formulas obtained for hemispherical-ended projectiles are also applicable to conical-nosed projectiles.