Abstract

Mixed mode four-point bending testing is performed on polyurethane foams. This paper presents only the results on the stress intensity factors (SIFs) obtained experimentally for a density of 325 kg/m3 , although tests were done for three foam densities. An asymmetric four-point bending setup was used for determining the critical SIFs in Mode I and Mode II, and discussions on the influence of the initial crack length on the SIF values are done. As initial crack length is increased the theoretical predictions give a better comparison to experimentally obtained results. Mode II testing is also performed on a polyurethane foam as a particular case of mixed-mode four-point testing. Crack initiation and propagation in Mode II depends on the geometrical parameters of the testing configuration. Numerical XFEM simulations are done in order to clarify the situations in which the crack doesn't propagate, and failure is produced in the region of supports. A combined experimental-XFEM analysis is recommended to fully understand the particularities of the behavior of cellular materials.

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