Static and dynamic mechanical response of different cork agglomerates

Abstract

Cork is a natural cellular material capable of withstanding considerable amounts of energy and exhibiting a viscoelastic return to its original shape. This feature is particularly interesting to resist to successive impacts. In this study, the behavior of different types of agglomerated cork (AC) and expanded cork (EC) is investigated under static and dynamic loadings. Double impact was carried out on the samples using a hemispheric actuator. The peak acceleration data for all compounds were further analyzed. Static compression tests gave an interesting insight into the stress–strain curve of agglomerates and Poisson’s ratio variation during deformation. Results demonstrate a clear influence of agglomerated density and grain size on the resulting mechanical properties and point out a tremendous potential for this sustainable material to be tailored to fit diverse crashworthiness applications.