Plastic deformation, failure and energy absorption of sandwich structures with metallic cellular cores

Cellular metals with stochastic, 2D or 3D periodic microstructures can sustain large plastic deformation at almost constant stress. Due to such excellent energy absorption capability, cellular metals are very suited to be used as the core of sandwich structures, which have been applied widely to the areas of aerospace and aeronautical design, the automotive manufacturing, and shipbuilding, as well as the defense and nuclear industries. Although there is a great deal of research currently available related to the behaviour of sandwich structures with metallic cellular core under various loading conditions, they are widely scattered in the literature. This review paper brings together the latest developments in this important research area. Three types of cellular metals, namely metal foams, honeycombs and prismatic materials and truss and textile based lattice materials are considered. The responses of sandwich structure with such cores subjected to different loads, i.e. quasi-static/low velocity compression and indentation, ballistic impact, high speed compression and blast loading, are reviewed. The emphasis has been placed on their plastic deformation, failure and energy absorption behaviours.