Hydrostatic high strain rate loading response of closed-cell polymeric foams as a function of mass density

Closed cell polymeric foams are widely used in naval structures as sandwich core material owing to their lightweight and high energy absorption capabilities. There has been a great push towards understanding their material response under multiple loading scenarios, however, the loading scenarios have been limited to uniaxial or multiaxial in air loadings at different strain rates. Here, the hydrostatic elastic response and yield behavior of PVC foams with varying mass densities under a high strain rate hydrostatic loading state have been investigated. A novel underwater high strain rate loading facility is utilized to subject these foams to near blast strain rate hydrostatic loading. Using the 3-D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique in conjunction with ultra -high-speed photography, full-field volumetric deformation data is obtained. The dynamic loading data is obtained using a piezoelectric pressure sensor. This enables the measurement of material yield strength and bulk modulus for these materials under high strain rate hydrostatic loading conditions. The foams demonstrate increment in bulk modulus and yield strength under high strain rate loading. Further, the increment observed is highly sensitive to the material bulk mass density.

Automated summary

This study investigates the hydrostatic elastic response and yield behavior of PVC foams under high strain rate hydrostatic loading conditions. A novel underwater high strain rate loading facility is used, and 3-D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique and ultra-high-speed photography are employed to obtain full-field volumetric deformation data. The foam materials show an increase in bulk modulus and yield strength under high strain rate loading, with the increment being highly sensitive to the material bulk mass density.