Local crushing of HCP100 structural foam due to low-velocity impact

An experimental and numerical study of the local crushing of Divinycell HCP100 structural foam due to low-velocity impact is undertaken. The study deals with a two-dimensional configuration, where foam beams are subjected to normal impact by gravity driven steel cylindrical impactors. During the impact tests, the foam specimens are entirely rested on a stiff steel substrate to limit the overall bending deformation. The quantities, measured during the impact tests, are the contact force, the load-time response, and the deflection. A two-dimensional numerical model is developed to simulate the deformation induced in the impact process. For this purpose, the ABAQUS/Explicit finite element computer code is used. The HCP100 foam is modeled as an elastic–plastic material with hardening. Results from finite element analysis are compared to test data and the correlation is found to be very good. The present work is a step towards developing a damage tolerance design methodology of HCP100 structural foam.