Low velocity impact and quasi-static in-plane loading on a graded honeycomb structure; experimental, analytical and numerical study

Through the increasing development of technology in different industries, and the integral requirement of energy absorption, light shock absorbers such as honeycomb structure under in-plane and out-of-plane loads have been in the center of attention. The purpose of this research is to analyze the behavior of graded honeycomb structure (GHS) under low-velocity impact and quasi-static loading. To begin with using the lower-bound theorem, an analytical equation for plateau stress is represented, taking power hardening model into consideration. To compare the acquired analytical equations, empirical tests are conducted on test specimens made of aluminum 6061-O, under previously mentioned loading. Uniaxial tensile tests on each row material are performed to collect data on material properties. The low-velocity and quasi-static tests are conducted with Drop-weight and Santam compression machines, respectively. The quasi-static test is conducted to study the strain rate effect on behavior of the structure. Two experimental tests are simulated in ABAQUS/CAE. Based on the conducted comparisons, the numerical and analytical results indicate a satisfactory agreement with experimental results. Given the performed comparison between experimental and numerical mode shapes, a “V” deformation mode is distinguished for test specimen.