Experimental Investigation of Dynamic Properties of Aluminum Foams

Abstract

One of the main research goals of the Protective Technologies Research and Development Center at Ben Gurion University of the Negev is to develop reliable numerical codes capable of accurately simulating the behavior of structures protected with aluminum foams exposed to explosion-generated blast-wave loads. To achieve this objective, the mechanical properties of aluminum foams under dynamic loads must be known. Several types of experimental investigations were carried out to obtain the mechanical properties of aluminum foams at different strain rates. The tests were conducted using different types of loads: static tests using an Instron compressing machine, dynamic tests using an Instron compressing machine, impact tests using a 400-kg impact pendulum, and shock-wave impact tests using conventional shock tubes. Plots of the volumetric strain as a function of the pressure and the strain rate were obtained, and the numerical codes were calibrated and validated with the aid of the experimental results.