Characterization of the Viscoelastic Response of Closed-Cell Foam Materials

Abstract

Foam-like materials are ubiquitously employed in impact protection applications due to their relatively low density and high dissipation capacity under increased strain-rate loading. In our previous work, we have investigated the coupling between the volumetric and distortional responses of open-cell elastomeric foams under the application of large deformations and under quasi-static rates and proposed a hyperelastic model for the equilibrium response. Here, we present data collected from a set of experiments under quasi-static and moderate strain rates for a closed-cell elastomeric foam, which allows the model to be extended to higher loading rates. Two different load frames were constructed to test materials under different loading rates. One is applicable for strain rates between 10−4 and 10−1 1/s and the other to achieve maximum strain rates up to 102 1/s. The data is used to develop a finite viscoelasticity model for closed-cell elastomeric foams.