Strain-rate effect and micro-structural optimization of cellular metals

An overview is given of the researches at USTC on mechanical properties of cellular metals including aluminum honeycombs and foams. The strain-rate effect and micro-structural optimization of cellular metals are reported. The in-plane quasi-static and dynamic behavior of circular-cell aluminum alloy honeycombs is investigated experimentally. The influence of impact velocity on the localized deformation mode and the plateau stress are found. The strain-rate effect and the cell-size effect on the crushing stress of both open-cell and closed-cell aluminum foams are investigated by an improved Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar method. The results reveal that the structural heterogeneity and irregularity have influence on the strain-rate sensitivity of cellular metals. The effect of multi-size cell mix and silicate-rubber filler on the mechanical properties of open-cell aluminum foams is studied. The results show that it is a possible way to improve the mechanical properties of open-cell foams by mixing multi-size cells and by filling silicate-rubber. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.