Axial crushing responses of aluminum honeycomb structures filled with elastomeric polyurethane foam

In this study the energy absorption of elastomeric foam-filled aluminum honeycomb under quasi-static compression loading and low velocity impact was experimentally investigated. Commercially available Al honeycomb made of Al5052 H38 filled with elastomeric polyurethane foam was used as the specimens. Pure polyurethane had a shore hardness of 30A and to make it foam, different volume fraction of glass microballoon was added to it and a novel material was synthesized that simultaneously had the properties of elastomers and foams Energy absorption of the specimens were evaluated by different parameters such as peak load, crushing load and absorbed energy. Also, the effective failure mechanisms were fully discussed. The results showed that the addition of polyurethane to the honeycomb cells had no significant effect on energy absorption enhancement. However, the addition of glass microballoon particles to the elastomer considerably raised the maximum load, mean crushing load, and total absorbed energy and unlike conventional filled structures, it had been significantly less deformed and could act as an energy absorber against impact many times.

Automated summary

This study experimentally investigated the energy absorption of elastomeric foam-filled aluminum honeycomb under quasi-static compression loading and low velocity impact. The results revealed that adding glass microballoon particles to the elastomer significantly enhanced energy absorption, increased maximum load, mean crushing load, and total absorbed energy, while showing less deformation compared to conventional filled structures, making it a promising energy absorber.