Sandwich composite utilisation for floating oscillating water column structure: Preliminary analysis under impulse loads

Composite materials have promising potential for renewable energy applications, such as the structure for the Oscillating Water Column (OWC). As OWC structures are continuously subjected to impulsive wave loads, understanding their structural response is crucial for ensuring reliability and safety. This study investigates the structural strength and integrity of composite sandwich panels under impulsive loading using the Finite Element Method (FEM) implemented in ABAQUS® Simulia with an adapted Underwater Shock Loading Simulator (USLS) model. Various configurations are evaluated by combining different facesheet materials, core types, and adhesive systems. The results show that PVC foam cores provide superior stiffness with displacements as low as 1.3 mm. In terms of impulse transmission, Nomex honeycomb cores exhibit the best damping performance, reducing reaction forces to approximately 3.5 kN. Energy absorption analysis reveals that the carbon-SAN foam-polyurethane configuration achieves the highest absorbed energy of 22 kJ.