Structural Integrity and Durability of Advanced Composites

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Blast resistance of polymeric composite sandwich structures

M. Kelly, H. Arora,  and J.P. Dear     Imperial College London, London, UK

Abstract

Full-scale air blast testing has been performed on styrene acrylonitrile polymeric foam core–glass fibre-reinforced polymer sandwich composite panels. Composites are of increasing interest in military applications due to their low density, tailorable mechanical properties and low radar signature. This research is performed as part of a programme sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, which considers the suitability of sandwich composites for naval use. Three studies were performed with various charge sizes ranging from 30 kg C4 (38.4 kg trinitrotoluene (TNT) equivalent) to 100 kg nitromethane (100 ...