Deformation response of EPS foam under combined compression-shear loading. Part II: High strain rate dynamic tests

• Published in: International journal of mechanical sciences 2018-09, Vol.145, p.9-23
• Main Authors: Ling, Chen, Ivens, Jan, Cardiff, Philip, Gilchrist, Michael D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Combined compression-shear loading; Drop tower dynamic tests; EPS foam; High strain rate
• ISSN: 0020-7403; 1879-2162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2018.06.015

•The mechanical behaviour under combined compression-shear loading of polymer foams is poorly understood due to the difficulty of performing such tests. We have designed, developed and used a novel test rig to perform such tests under quasi-static and high strain rate dynamic conditions for different densities of EPS foam.•The compressive and shear stresses at yield of the EPS foam are density and strain-rate dependent.•Increasing the impact loading angle tends to decrease the compressive stress and increase the shear stress at yield of the EPS foam. In Part I, we performed quasi-static compression-shear tests on expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. In the present study, dynamic combined compression-shear loading tests were performed on different densities of EPS foam by integrating the previously developed loading rig with a lab-built drop weight tower. Two impact loading wedge angles (45° and 60°) and three different drop heights (50, 130 and 175 cm) were tested in the experiments. It was found that both the compressive and shear stresses at yield of the EPS foam are density and strain-rate dependent. In addition, increasing the impact loading angle tends to decrease the compressive stress and increase the shear stress at yield of the EPS foam. [Display omitted]