QUASI-STATIC UNIAXIAL AND BIAXIAL LOADING OF ALUMINIUM FOAMS
Keywords:
Aluminium foams, uniaxial compression, biaxial compression, quasi static loadingAbstract
Aluminium foams are now being considered for use in lightweight structural sandwich panels suchas aircraft body and in energy absorption systems for protection from impacts. In both cases, thealuminium foams may be subjected to uniaxial and as well as biaxial compression loadings. In thisstudy, the uniaxial compression loading at a rate of 5 mm/min is performed to find the crushingcharacteristics and their directional dependency. Eight specimens are used in the uniaxial compression.The load responses are recorded and compared with the biaxial compression loading. Biaxialcompression tests are conducted in a custom testing facility between rigid platens, which can be movedindependently in two principles direction at the same speed. Five specimens in biaxial compressionloading in various densities are used. Considerable enhancement in collapse loads and lead to higherenergy absorption is seen in biaxially compression loaded metallic foams in comparison with uniaxialcompression loading. The refined empirical relationship for uniaxial loading is also developed.
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