The use of cellular materials to alleviate the damage from blast-induced fragments

This study aims to understand how different cellular materials mitigate the damage that is caused by a blast‐induced fragment. In the experimental arrangement, a front plate is subjected to localised blast load to release a “controlled” fragment (cap) to impact a similar plate positioned 190mm apart. A cylindrical charge of Plastic Explosive 4 (PE4) of different diameters (27mm, 36mm and 43mm) and masses ranging from 7g to 11g are used to create fragments of different sizes and masses propelled at different velocities to impact the rear plate. Both front and rear plates are made from 1.6mm thick mild steel sheet with an exposed circular area of 106mm diameter. Tests are carried out with and without energy absorbing materials to investigate the protective performance of the different materials investigated by means of the mode of failure and maximum deflection of the rear plate. The different energy absorbing cellular materials investigated in this study include aluminium foam, aluminium honeycomb, balsa wood, Corecell M‐80 foam, Divinycell H200 PVC foam and rigid polyurethane 200 foam. The 40mm thick energy absorbing materials are 106mm in diameter (same size as the exposed plate area) are placed in front of the rear plate.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Ranwaha, Nzudzanyo

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Yuen, Steeve Chung Kim

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9144

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9144