Equipment for Impact Testing of Sandwich Panels

ABSTRACT: This article describes test equipment for testing localized, penetrating impact on sandwich panels. The sandwich panels in question are 500 500mm2 with a typical thickness of 40–55mm. The impact velocities are in the region 50–130m/s, with an impactor mass between 0.5 and 1 kg, and an impactor diameter of 50mm. The above parameters correspond to localized impact on train fronts, airplanes at take-off and landing, cars and similar. A series of 7 impact tests on identical sandwich panels at varying velocities is described