Multiscale characterisation and simulation of open cell metal foams

• Published in: Proceedings in applied mathematics and mechanics 2018-12, Vol.18 (1), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Bleistein, Thomas, Jung, Anne, Diebels, Stefan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1617-7061; 1617-7061
• DOI: 10.1002/pamm.201800211

The complex microstructure of open cell metal foams results in beneficial global material properties like a good weight to stiffness ratio, which makes this special group of cellular materials interesting for several applications. Open cell metal foams are suitable for lightweight applications as well as for energy absorbing systems. The dependency of the entire samples' mechanical behaviour on their microstructure induces the demand of experiments and simulations on different scales. Hence, a couple of experiments are necessary to specify the material properties of open cell aluminium foams. On the macroscopic level, several tests with different load cases such as pure tension, pure compression or pure torsion and the superposition of these loading conditions are needed to obtain the yield surface for the different types of foams. The material parameters on the microscopic level can be identified by microtensile tests and inverse calculations using a 3D model of the strut. The deviation of the simulation results from the experimental data is minimised by an optimisation. Thus, the used material parameters in the simulations are changed until the numerical results match the experiments. This contribution focuses on the characterisation of open cell metal foams on different hierarchical levels. It introduces an approach to describe the macroscopic material behaviour with a homogeneous material model based on micromechanical experiments and material parameters.