Linear and non-linear dynamic response of sandwich panels to blast loading

The problem of the dynamic response of sandwich flat panels exposed to blast loadings is addressed. The sandwich model includes a number of non-classical effects such as the anisotropy and heterogeneity of face sheets, transverse orthotropy of the core layer, the geometrical non-linearities considered in the von Kármán sense, as well as the initial geometric imperfections. As concerns the blast pulses considered in this analysis, these are due to either an underwater/in-air explosion, or are due to a pressure wave traveling across the panel span. Implications of the explosive charge, stand-off distance, directionality property of face sheets material, damping ratio, geometric non-linearity, initial geometric imperfection, and of the characteristics of the blast, on dynamic response and dynamic magnification factor are put into evidence via a parametric study, and pertinent conclusions are outlined.