Quasi-static and dynamic compression behavior of glass cenospheres/5A03 syntactic foam and its sandwich structure

5A03 aluminum matrix syntactic foam filled with glass cenospheres was synthesized using pressure infiltration technique. This paper focused on the compression behavior of syntactic foam at quasi-static (10−3 s−1) and dynamic (strain rate 1 × 103 s−1-3 × 103 s−1) condition, and the dynamic response of syntactic foam core sandwich structure with two different wave impedance front-panels (A3 steel and AZ31) subjected to split-Hopkinson pressure bar. The syntactic foam at dynamic loading exhibited a maximum 43% increase in peak strength, 38% in plateau strength, and 23% in energy absorption capacity compared to quasi-static results, with 0.03 strain rate sensitivity similar to that of aluminum matrix. The dynamic compression behavior can be concluded as thin near-45° shear bands forming, deformed area propagating to the central and lateral parts, and finally densifying with significant lateral expansion. The sandwich structure exhibited great energy absorption capability due to the syntactic foam core. The higher wave impedance front-panel would be conducive to the energy absorption capability of syntactic foam core into full play.