Abstract
Closed-cell aluminium foams were fabricated and characterised at different strain rates. Quasi-static and high strain rate experimental compression testing was performed using a universal servo-hydraulic testing machine and powder gun. The experimental results show a large influence of strain rate hardening on mechanical properties, which contributes to significant quasi-linear enhancement of energy absorption capabilities at high strain rates. The results of experimental testing were further used for the determination of critical deformation velocities and validation of the proposed computational model. A simple computational model with homogenised crushable foam material model shows good correlation between the experimental and computational results at analysed strain rates. The computational model offers efficient (simple, fast and accurate) analysis of high strain rate deformation behaviour of a closed-cell aluminium foam at different loading velocities.
Highlights
Metal foams and cellular structures are being widely studied in different aspects and considered for use in modern applications in engineering, medicine, fashion and others recently [1,2]
Cylindrical closed-cell aluminium foam specimens were fabricated with the powder metallurgy method and subjected to experimental testing under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions, where significant strain rate hardening was observed
The high strain rate testing was performed at the strain rates above 12,000 s−1, which results in shock deformation mode
Summary
Metal foams and cellular structures are being widely studied in different aspects and considered for use in modern applications in engineering, medicine, fashion and others recently [1,2]. The behaviour of closed-cell foams under different loading conditions was studied in some detail [18], with micro computed tomography (μCT) applied to track the changes of internal structure during the deformation of closed-cell aluminium foam [19]. Authors in [24] studied the effect of porosity and differences in the deformation pattern of closed-cell aluminium foam under quasi-static and dynamic (SHPB) loading. All mentioned studies point out that the failure modes under quasi-static and dynamic (high strain rate) loading are different. As proven many times before, the deformation mode of a given cellular material or structure changes with increasing loading velocity (strain rate). This work focuses on experimental and computational evaluation of high strain rate behaviour of closed-cell aluminium foam. Work provides insight into the deformation behaviour of interesting lightweight materials which will be used in modern constructions
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