Levent Aktay

FEM/SPH Coupling Technique for High Velocity Impact Simulations

In this work, impact simulations using both meshfree Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and combined FEM/SPH Method were carried out for a sandwich composite panel with carbon fibre fabric/epoxy face skins and polyetherimide (PEI)foam and hybrid (Nomex/PEI foam) core. A numerical model was developed using the dynamic explicit finite element (FE) structure analysis program PAM-CRASH. The carbon fibre/epoxy facings were modelled with layered shell elements, whilst SPH particles replaced solid elements in the core. The efficiency and the advantages of pure meshfree SPH and combined FEM/SPH methods were demonstrated by comparing the core deformation modes and impact force pulses measured in the experiments to predicted structural impact response for a range of impact velocities.