Hail impact damage modelling of polymeric core aluminium sandwich panels

Abstract

Aluminium sandwich panels (ASPs) with polymeric core made up of aluminium face sheets and a polymer-mineral composite core present a more cost-effective solution to building claddings than aluminium alloy because of improved energy efficiency. However, there are uncertainties regarding their resistance to impact by hail. Massive economic losses can be incurred should there be widespread damage resulted from the resistant capacity being exceeded in a hailstorm. This study investigates the resistance of such sandwich cladding panels to hail impact and the damage mechanism. Dynamic tests were conducted in this study by accelerating laboratory-made ice balls of varying sizes and velocities onto ..