Compressive Response of Cellular Core Filled with Micro-Sphere Embedded Aluminum

In recent years, sandwich structures have received a lot of attention due to their potential application in impact and blast mitigation. Sandwich structures are made of a soft core sandwiched between two strong thin face sheets. The objective of the present work is to understand the compressive stress-strain response of a cellular core used in sandwich structures under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. The core considered has a cellular structure with a cell size (3.6 × 4.7) mm2 and walls made of 0.5 mm thick titanium sheet. These titanium cells are filled with aluminum having embedded glass micro-spheres. Quasi-static tests were performed using a universal testing machine whereas dynamic tests were performed using a split Hopkinson pressure bar. The compressive response of the core is evaluated by loading the core along the walls of the titanium cell and also perpendicular to the walls of the titanium cell in both quasi-static and dynamic tests. High-speed imaging is used to record the real-time deformation and failure of the samples.