Dynamic response of rotating-plywood structure under blast loading

Inspired by the survival battle between mantis shrimps and abalones, a rotating-plywood (R-P) structure was designed to withstand blast loading. The bio-inspired structures were fabricated using a multi-material 3D printer. A series of blast experiments and numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate their dynamic responses and failure modes. The results showed that the R-P structure exhibited much greater toughness than its monolithic counterparts. The energy dissipation mechanism of the RP structure was identified based on explosion test results and CT scanning data. The improved toughness resulted from multiple mechanisms, including microcracking, crack deflection, crack branching, and crack bridging. Among the different forms of energy absorption, crack propagation contributed the most, accounting for more than 50 % of the total energy, followed by plastic deformation and the residual kinetic energy. Numerical simulations further examined the stress propagation and energy absorption behavior of the structure, confirming its energy absorption characteristics. Energy absorption was mainly governed by the stiff components, while the specific energy absorption (SEA) of interlayer soft material was much higher than that of the stiff material. These findings provide insights for the design of advanced composite protective structures with improved resistance to dynamic loading.