Low-velocity impact response of multilayer foam core sandwich panels with composite face sheets

• An analytical model including the face sheet/core coupling effect is proposed. • The impact response of multilayer foam core sandwich panel is predicted. • The impact resistance of multilayer sandwich panel overmatches monolayer one. • The effect of local stiffness on the energy absorption capacity is illuminated. This paper focuses on the analytical and experimental investigations on the low-velocity impact response of multilayer foam core sandwich panels with composite face sheets. Taking into account the reinforcement of face sheets by foam cores, an energy-based analytical model for multilayer sandwich panels was developed to predict contact force, impactor displacement and energy absorption. The predictions were validated by experimental results. The impact resistance of the multilayer sandwich panel is superior to that of monolayer one with the same mass under the low-velocity impact. Adjusting the local stiffness close to the top face sheet can further improve the energy absorption of multilayer sandwich panels; however, the maximum contact force will be increased. This finding suggests that the design of multilayer foam core sandwich panels needs to carefully consider the requirements according to the cases in engineering applications.