Behavior of a random hollow sphere metal foam

• Published in: Acta materialia Vol. 50; no. 11; pp. 2867 - 2879
• Main Authors: Lim, T.-J., Smith, B., McDowell, D.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 28.06.2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Compression; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Hollow spheres; Materials science; Metal foams; Metals. Metallurgy; Physics; Porous materials; granular materials; Specific materials; Metal foams; Compression; Hollow spheres; Digital simulation; Theoretical study; Mechanical properties; Spheres; Experimental study; Stress-strain relations; Finite element method; Chromium steels; Stainless steel-405; Compressive stress; Hollow shape; Uniaxial stress; Metal foam; Steels
• ISSN: 1359-6454; 1873-2453
• DOI: 10.1016/S1359-6454(02)00111-8

The quasistatic uniaxial compression behavior of both single hollow spheres and bulk metal foams comprised of the same hollow spheres is examined experimentally. The spheres are nominally the composition of a 405 stainless steel (Fe–12Cr), with a 2 mm outside diameter and 0.1 mm thick walls, and are sintered together to process the bulk foam. It is shown that to first order the bulk foam stress–strain behavior, Poisson effects, and densification may be understood on the basis of simple experiments performed on single spheres between parallel platens. These hollow sphere foams appear to behave similar to open-cell foams. Finite element modeling of finite compression of a single sphere lends further insight into the deformation process and the role of plastic bending and contact of cell walls during the process of densification.