On the strength enhancement of cellular materials under dynamic loadings

Abstract

The strength enhancement of cellular materials under dynamic compression was experimentally studied in the present paper. A phenomenological model was employed to investigate the entrapped air contribution by introducing a parameter, namely the leaking rate of air. The strength enhancement caused by the entrapped air was then studied for both aluminum honeycombs and foams. It has been found that the pressure change in the entrapped air during dynamic compression is a direct source of strain hardening for aluminum honeycombs whereas it has smaller influence on the strain hardening of aluminum foams. Other sources that might contribute to the strain hardening of cellular materials are also discussed.