The mechanical behaviour of aluminium foam structures in different loading conditions

The use of foam has the potential for energy absorption enhancement. Many types of materials can be produced in the form of foams, including metals and polymers. Of the metallic based foams, aluminium based are among the most advanced. Aluminium foams couple good specific mechanical properties with high thermal stability. Among the various aspects still to be investigated regarding their mechanical behaviour is the influence of a hydrostatic state of stress on yield strength. Unlike metals, the hydrostatic component affects yields. Therefore, different loading conditions have to be considered to fully identify the material behaviour. Another important issue in foam structure design is the analysis of composite structures. The mechanical behaviour of an aluminium foam has been examined. The foam was subjected to uniaxial, hydrostatic stress, pure deviatoric stress, and combinations thereof. Results obtained will be presented as quasi-static and dynamic uniaxial compression and quasi-static bending and shear loading. Moreover, composite structures were made by assembling the foam into aluminium cold extruded closed section 6060 aluminium tubes. The results show that the energy absorption capability of the composite structures is much greater than the sum of the energy absorbed by the two components, the foam and the tube. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.