GRP LIGHTWEIGHT PANELS DROP TEST

As part of a conceptual design proposal for a dropped object impact deck and in conjunction with our sister company MSD Design Ltd, GRP Aberdeen Ltd were required to manufacture test pieces suitable for a simulated drop test.

Three test pieces were manufactured, each with a varying thickness of core layers and laminate makeup. The aim of the test was to provide our client with some visual evidence and also give them confidence that a laminate sandwich panel would be able resist the specified impact of a 25kg weight from a specific height.

The first two test pieces gave a result where the test weight impacted and then 'bounced' off. This would have been an undesirable result in the actual site location. When the weight landed on test piece three, it punctured the laminate skin and embedded itself into the core. This is the result we were looking for and provided us with guidance for the correct laminate and core panel make up. During the test our structural engineers were on hand to take sample deflection values for the test pieces themselves and ensure the correct test procedure was followed.

Following the drop tests, the test pieces were transferred back to the GRP Aberdeen Ltd workshop where they were sliced into sections to visually examine the internal damage the impact had caused to the composite panel.

Overall, the tests were successful in giving us the confidence that our proposed panel design would absorb the specified impact, protect people & equipment and had the potential to be developed further.