The effect of strut geometry on the yielding behaviour of open-cell foams

A micromechanical analysis was carried out to investigate the effect of strut geometry on the yielding behaviour of open-cell foams. Different strut cross sections, in rectangular, circular and equilateral triangular shapes, were investigated. It was found that the strut geometry significantly affects the plastic-yielding behaviour of open-cell foams. The shape of the plastic-yield surface was found to depend not only on relative density but also on the cross-sectional shape of the struts. Numerical results show that even though the material of the struts is perfectly plastic, open-cell foams with asymmetrical sectional struts will exhibit different tensile and compressive collapse strength. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.