Open-Cell Nickel Alloy Foam–Natural Rubber Hybrid: Compression Energy Absorption Behavior Analysis and Experiment

Abstract

This work deals with the compression energy absorption aspects of an open-cell nickel foam–natural rubber hybrid material. A comprehensive numerical analysis and elaborate experiments were the main tools used in this investigation. Open-cell nickel foam was analyzed as tetrakaidecahedron geometry. Inputs to the geometric dimensions were obtained by subjecting the nickel foam samples to x-ray micro-computed tomography (µCT) technique. A Mooney–Rivlin 2 parameter-based material model was implemented for the rubber part. Analysis was carried out using finite element-based commercial software ANSYS® with explicit dynamics as the chosen analysis scheme. During analysis, symmetry boundary conditions were applied considering each unit cell to be a mirror image of the adjacent cells. Static compression experiments were conducted on fabricated samples for validation of analysis with regard to energy absorption behavior. Scanning electron microscopy examination was carried out on hybrid samples both pre- and post-compression test for better understanding of compression mechanism. The compression energy absorption value of hybrid sample is significantly better than open-cell nickel foam and natural rubber values. The study clearly demonstrates interfacial bonds failure coupled with progressive deformation of foam cell ligaments as the main reasons for enhanced energy absorption during compression loading and presents the results quantitatively as a novel feature. In the end, the paper thoroughly compares the analysis and results in a critical way.