Characterisation of shock-absorbing components under impact loading

Abstract
For validation of structural integrity under normal and hypothetical accident conditions during transport and storage of dangerous goods the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) focuses its safety related scientific research on advanced mechanical safety assessment methods including simulation of high rate impact of model components and structures.
An impact and crash test facility was recently developed for performing dynamic impact tests with component size specimen, or to crash specimens of impact limiter materials and structural components.
The paper presents experimental techniques of BAM drop test machine and options of several measurement methods and advancements in order to characterize typical shock-absorbing materials under impact loading conditions. Instrumented drop weight tests are performed to complete materials data base and energy absorption of shock-absorbing materials as well as to implement materials and structural parameters into FEA of reference structures.