Experimental and numerical study of composite lightweight structural insulated panel with expanded polystyrene core against windborne debris impacts

•A composite SIP panel with EPS against windborne debris impact was studied.•Laboratory tests were carried out by using a pneumatic cannon testing system.•The failure modes and response of specimens were observed and discussed.•Penetration-resistant capacity of SIP against debris impacts was identified.•Numerical model was developed to simulate the test by using LS-DYNA.

Natural disasters such as cyclone, hurricane, tornado and typhoon cause tremendous loss around the world. The windborne debris usually imposes high speed localized impact on the building envelope, which may harm people inside the building and create dominant openings. A dominant opening in the building envelope might cause internal pressure increasing and result in substantial damage to the building structures, such as roof lifting up or even collapse. To withstand the impact of such extreme event, the penetration resistant capacity of wall or roof panels to windborne debris impact should meet the requirements specified in the wind loading codes, e.g., the Australian Wind Loading Code (AS/NZS 1170.2:2011). In this study, a composite Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) with Extended Polystyrene (EPS) core sandwiched by flat metal skins that is commonly used in building industry was investigated. To study the structural response and penetration resistant capacity of the composite panel against windborne debris impacts, a series of laboratory tests were carried out by using a pneumatic cannon testing system. The effects of various specimen configurations, impact locations and debris impact velocities on their performance were investigated. The failure modes under various projectile impact scenarios were observed and compared by using two high-speed cameras. The dynamic responses were examined quantitatively in terms of the opening size, residual velocity of projectile, deformation and strain time histories on the back skin measured in the tests. The penetration resistance capacity of the panels subjected to windborne debris impact were examined and analyzed. In addition, numerical models were developed in LS-DYNA to simulate the response and damage of the composite SIP under windborne debris impact. Laboratory tested panels were first modeled. The test data was used to calibrate the accuracy of the numerical model. The validated numerical model was then used to conduct more numerical simulations to obtain more results such as energy absorption, impact force and vulnerability curve of the SIP against windborne debris impact.