SACRIFICIAL CLADDING EFFICIENCY FOR BLAST MITIGATION USING LOW DENSITY CRUSHABLE CORE SYSTEMS (POLYURETHANE FOAM AND AXIALLY LOADED METALLIC BEVERAGE CANS)

This work aims to study the effectiveness of a sacrificial cladding configuration (front plate and crushable core parameters) to protect a given structure against blast load. An experimental campaign is provided. Strong blast load and two low-density crushable cores are considered: (i) a polyurethane foam (PU), and (ii) a metallic beverage can (MBC). Experimental results are compared with a one-dimensional model, denoted, the Load-Cladding-Structure (LCS). Then, effects of the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) and the loading rate (LR), are examined. This leads to conclude that: (i) the use of an adequate sacrificial cladding configuration may transmit a relatively low and constant pressure (plateau stress) for a longer time span, (ii) the mentioned constant pressure corresponds to the crushable core plateau stress at the experienced LR, and (iii) considering the effects of both the fluid-structure interaction and the loading rate help to reach the optimal crushable core thickness. Finally, and based on the obtained results, simple steps are proposed to design an optimal sacrificial cladding.