An investigation of impact resistance capacity of polypropylene (PP) added plasterboard subjected to soft-body impact

Abstract Plasterboard is one of the most-commonly used construction materials because of its low cost and easy installation characteristics. Although the low strength and fragility make plasterboard functioned as non-load-bearing components. Plasterboard walls are always required to satisfy impact resistance against impact from accidental body strike, hard-body impact from wheelchair, etc. during its usage. This study investigates the impact resistance capacity of plasterboards being subjected to soft-body impact load . Laboratory sandbag impact tests are conducted to examine the responses of plasterboard and PP fibre strengthened plasterboard system at different velocities. Detailed numerical models of plasterboards are also generated to assist the analysis. Different damage and failure modes are observed on the plasterboards when subjected to impactor strike at different velocities. It is found that the coupled deformation of plasterboard and sandbag leads to different impact load time histories from sandbag soft impact, which results in the different failure modes. The PP fibre strengthened board exhibits better impact resistance than conventional plasterboard. Parametric study is then conducted to quantify the peak central deflections under different strength and thickness variances on plasterboard. An empirical formula is then derived based on the parametric results for preliminary assessment of the plasterboard impact resistance capacity.