Low-cycle fatigue assessment of open-cell A332 aluminum alloy foams

Abstract

Though metal foams are used in applications where they could be exposed to cyclic loading, their fatigue strengths also must be evaluated concerning this fact that these materials have much lower resistance to cyclic loads than their base bulk materials. In this study, the open cell foam specimens which are produced by A332 aluminum alloy stir casting and solidification under pressure, are subjected to force-controlled cyclic compressive loading. Experiments revealed that the produced foams have a good capacity for fatigue loading so that in the range of stress range below 90% of corresponding yield stress, almost no low-cycle fatigue occurs.