Impact-resistant performance of DVST sandwich panel under low-velocity impact and numerical cases study of protective effect on RC column

• A double vertical steel tube (DVST) sandwich panel, with a core layer composed of inner and outer vertical circular hollow steel tubes, was proposed. • The dynamic behaviors of the DVST sandwich panel under low-velocity impact was evaluated • A precise 3D finite element model was developed. • The effectiveness of the DVST sandwich panel as a sacrificial cladding for reinforced concrete (RC) columns under low-velocity impact was investigated A double vertical steel tube (DVST) sandwich panel, with a core layer composed of inner and outer vertical circular hollow steel tubes, was proposed as a sacrificial cladding to mitigate the damage induced by impact loading to reinforced concrete (RC) column. Through experimental tests and numerical simulations, dynamic behaviors of the DVST sandwich panel under low-velocity impact was evaluated. The impacts of varying inner tube diameters and single-layer versus double-layer configurations on the failure mode and the time-history of impact forces of the DVST sandwich panels were examined. The results indicated that the steel tube of the upper layer in double-layer DVST sandwich panels played a crucial role in absorbing impact energy. Additionally, the effectiveness of the DVST sandwich panel as a sacrificial cladding for RC columns under low-velocity impact was investigated. The findings revealed that the presence of the DVST sandwich panel reduced the energy absorbed by the RC column by approximately 60.1%, effectively preserving the integrity of the column while minimizing deformation and damage.