In　this　study,　a　closed-cell　aluminum　foam　was　filled　into　the　interspaces　of　a　sandwich　panel　with　corrugated　cores　to　form　a　composite　structure.　The　novel　structure　is　expected　to　have　enhanced　foam-filled　cores　with　high　specific　strength　and　energy　absorption　capacity.　An　out-of-plane　compressive　load　under　low-velocity　impact　was　experimentally　and　numerically　carried　out　on　both　the　empty　and　foam-filled　sandwich　panels　as　well　as　on　the　aluminum　foam.　It　is　found　that　the　empty　corrugated　sandwich　panel　has　poor　energy　absorption　capacity　due　to　the　core　member　buckling　compared　to　that　of　the　aluminum　foam.　However,　by　the　filling　of　the　aluminum　foam,　the　impact　load　resistance　of　the　corrugated　panel　was　increased　dramatically.　The　loading-time　response　of　the　foam-filled　panel　performs　a　plateau　region　like　the　aluminum　foam,　which　has　been　proved　to　be　an　excellent　energy　absorption　material.　Numerical　results　demonstrated　that　the　aluminum　foam　filling　can　decrease　the　corrugated　core　member　defects　sensitivity　and　increase　its　stability　dramatically.　The　plastic　energy　dissipation　of　the　core　member　for　the　foam-filled　panel　is　much　higher　than　that　of　the　empty　one　due　to　the　reduced　buckling　wavelength　caused　by　the　aluminum　foam　filling.　©　2018,　The　Author(s)　2018.