Energy absorption optimization on a sandwich panel with lattice core under the low-velocity impact

This paper focuses on the energy absorption of lattice core sandwich structures of different configurations. The diamond lattice unit cell, which has been extensively investigated for energy absorption applications, is the starting point for this research. The energy absorption behaviour of sandwich structures with an expanded metal sheet as the core is investigated at low-velocity impact loading. Numerical simulations were carried out using ABAQUS/EXPLICIT and the results were thoroughly compared with the experimental results, which indicated desirable accuracy. A parametric analysis, using a BoxBehnken design (BBD), as a method for the design of experiments (DOE), was performed. The samples fabricated in three levels of parameters include 0.081, 0.145, and 0.562 mm2 Cell sizes, and 0, 45, and 90-degree cell orientation, which were investigated. It was observed from experimental data that the angle of cells orientation had the highest degree of influence on the specific energy absorption. The results showed that the angle of cells orientation has been the most influential parameter to increase the peak forces. The results from using the design expert software showed the optimal specific energy absorption and peak force to be 1786 J/kg and 26314.4 N, respectively. The obtained R2 values and normal probability plots indicated a good agreement between the experimental results and those predicted by the model.