Shock response of open-cell nanoporous Cu foams: Effects of porosity and specific surface area

Abstract

We investigate the effects of porosity or relative mass density and specific surface area on shock response of open-cell nanoporous Cu foams with molecular dynamics simulations, including compression, shock velocity–particle velocity, and shock temperature curves, as well as shock-induced melting. While porosity still plays the key role in shock response, specific surface area at nanoscales can have remarkable effects on shock temperature and pressure, but its effects on shock velocity and specific volume are negligible. Shock-induced melting of nanofoams still follows the equilibrium melting curve for full-density Cu, and the incipient and complete melting temperatures are established as a function of both relative mass density and specific surface area.