Quasi-Static Impact Response of Alternative Origami-Core Sandwich Panels

Foldcore sandwich panels have been the focus of much recent study in the aerospace industry. Existing foldcores are composed of a partially folded Miura origami pattern sandwiched between two stiff facings, and have been shown to possess numerous useful properties for impact-resistant applications. Non-Miura origami pattern with similar geometric properties, specifically rigid-foldability and tessellation, may be used as potential alternative origami-cores for sandwich panels, however the mechanical performance of such cores remains an unexplored area. This paper conducts a preliminary investigation into the impact resistance of five non-Miura sandwich panels. The selected patterns are numerically analysed under quasi-static lateral impact loads, and comparisons are drawn with existing foldcore designs. Two particular patterns are found to have failure modes suited for energy-absorbing applications. Prototypes of these two cores are constructed from polypropylene sheet material and experimentally tested to validate numerical results. Reasonable correlation is seen in the force-displacement response of numerical and experimental models.