Investigation of Projectile Impact Behaviors of Graphene Aerogel Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Graphene aerogel (GA), as a novel solid material, has shown great potential in engineering applications due to its unique mechanical properties. In this study, the mechanical performance of GA under high-velocity projectile impacts is thoroughly investigated using full-atomic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The study results show that the porous structure and density are key factors determining the mechanical response of GA under impact loading. Specifically, the impact-induced penetration of the projectile leads to the collapse of the pore structure, causing stretching and subsequent rupture of covalent bonds in graphene sheets. Moreover, the effects of temperature on the mechanical performance of GA have been proven to be minimal, thereby highlighting the mechanical stability of GA over a wide range of temperatures. Finally, the energy absorption density (EAD) and energy absorption efficiency (EAE) metrics are adopted to assess the energy absorption capacity of GA during projectile penetration. The research findings of this work demonstrate the significant potential of GA for energy absorption applications.