Impact tolerant and healable aluminum millitube reinforced shape memory polymer composite sandwich core

•A new aluminum hollow tube reinforced shape memory polymer composite sandwich core.•Light weight and impact tolerant.•Energy absorption through both plastic deformation and damage.•Plastic deformation in the matrix can be recovered.•Damage in the matrix can be healed.

In order to improve impact tolerance and energy absorption of sandwich panel under impact loading, a new aluminum hollow tube reinforced shape memory polymer (AHTR-SMP) composite sandwich core is designed and fabricated. Physical/mechanical properties were examined through a variety of tests, including axial compression, three-point bending, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and shape recovery tests. In order to characterize its dynamic performances, low velocity impact test was conducted. According to the tests results, this new AHTR-SMP core demonstrated considerable impact tolerance and damage healing functionality, and may be considered as a promising option for critical structural applications featured by tolerating repeated impacts.