Experimental Optimization on Effective Parameters of Sandwich Panels with Aluminum Foam under Low Velocity Impact

This paper introduces the application of Taguchi optimization methodology in optimizing the production parameters of aluminum foam sandwich panels (AFSP) with different skin layer under low velocity impact loading. The core material of AFSP is made from aluminum foam and the skin layer of plates are made of glass/epoxy as well as pure aluminum layer. For impact test, drop weight impact device with different impactor shapes used. The impact parameters evaluated in this study are skin layer layout, impactor shape and core thickness of AFSP. While, the response factors to be measured are specific absorbed energy (SAE), maximum displacement (MD) and maximum impact force (MIF). Taguchi method used to check the effect of the production parameters on the response factors by creating orthogonal array (OA). The result from this study shows that the application of the Taguchi method can determine the best combination of production parameters. These results can provide the optimal impact response that are the largest SAE, smallest MD and smallest value of MIF. For the best SAE and MIF, the impact parameters are found cross-ply/conical/۴۰ mm core. Meanwhile, the optimized combination of levels for the lowest MD found to be pure Aluminum/spherical/۴۰ mm core.

کلیدواژه ها:

Low Velocity Impact-Composite Sandwich Sheet-Aluminum Foam ، Drop weight-Taguchi method