Expanded metal: A review of manufacturing, applications and structural performance

Abstract

Currently, in several engineering fields there is an increasing demand for lightweight structural components with high-strength and capable to dissipate energy, due to impact or seismic events, in a controlled manner. In this regard, expanded metal meshes have been successfully implemented in various applications, therefore this paper presents a review of manufacturing, applications, and structural performance of expanded metal meshes. At first, the production of expanded meshes is analyzed from a historical perspective and the material properties are discussed. Then, a review of patents is conducted covering a wide range of uses for expanded metal in various applications such as: manufacturing process of the mesh, art a decoration, electrical applications, acoustic control, aeronautical and space industry, railway industry, automotive industry, biomechanics, agriculture (farming), naval industry, ferrocement, flow control, support elements, filtration and separation, heat exchangers and cold machinery, flow control, machinery, impact protection, metal structures and foam reinforced with expanded metal. At the end, the structural performance of expanded metal meshes under various load conditions (compressive and tensile loadings, shear, bending and impact) is analyzed in depth. Finally, the results show that the structural responses, and corresponding strengths, of expanded metal meshes strongly depend on geometric parameters and the orientation of the cells. Increased cross-section properties and the use of high-strength material alloys are among the critical challenges for expanded metals.