UC San Diego

A dynamic loading method for simulating explosive blast was developed using a crushing foam projectile launched by a gas gun at velocities ranging from 30-60 m/s. This test method is used to load composite specimens to study the dynamic failure of carbon/epoxy sandwich beams. The beams consist of an end-grain balsa core and carbon fiber laminate facesheets. A focused study was conducted on the failure behavior of the facesheets, in isolation of core- failure effects, as well as the behavior of the full sandwich structure. Dynamic three point bending was conducted using the crushing foam loading methodology to impart simulated dynamic blast loading at relevant strain rates onto the beam specimens. Slower, more controlled dynamic tests, as well as quasi-static tests, were also performed using a servohydraulic test machine to obtain a highly detailed view of the specimens' behavior during the failure process