The escalating complexity of maritime security has driven the demand for high-performance protective structures capable of withstanding underwater impulsive loads. Sandwich structures have attracted considerable attention in blast-resistant buildings, naval vessels, and military protective systems because of their high specific strength, lightweight characteristics, and superior energy-absorption capabilities under extreme dynamic loading conditions. Sandwich systems comprising fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) face-sheets and polymer foam cores exhibit exceptional specific strength and broadband energy dissipation capabilities. As a result, they have emerged as a pivotal solution for deep-sea protective applications. However, a systematic review of the dynamic response mechanisms and failure modes of these structures under extreme underwater impact is still lacking. This research systematically reviews the dynamic response behaviors and recent advances of foam core sandwich structures subjected to underwater impulsive loading. Initially, the response principles of these materials in impact environments are elucidated, focusing on the propagation characteristics, loading modes, and dynamic damage mechanisms associated with three distinct types of underwater impulsive loads. Subsequently, the key factors governing the impact resistance of the structures are systematically analyzed from two primary dimensions: loading conditions and structural parameters. Furthermore, a comparative analysis is conducted on the impact characteristics of typical core materials, including polymethacrylimide (PMI), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), and aluminum foams, and the current application status of impact-resistant foam sandwich materials is outlined. Finally, the limitations of existing research are summarized. It is proposed that future efforts should focus on developing multi-field coupled numerical simulation methods. Such advancements aim to further enhance the impact resistance and service life of these materials in complex marine environments. This review serves as a critical theoretical benchmark for the optimized design and standardized evaluation of future underwater protective structures.
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