Experimental studies on the dynamic compressive properties of open-celled aluminum alloy foams

The compressive deformation behavior of open-celled aluminum foams with different densities and morphologies was tested under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. High strain rate experiments were conducted using a split Hopkinson pressure bar technique at strain rates ranging from 500 s-1 to 2 000 s-1. The experimental results show that the compressive stress-strain curves of aluminum alloy foams are characterized by three stages appeared in general foam materials, namely elastic, collapse and densification ones. Compared with that of relative density, the effect of cell size on the dynamic properties can be negligible. The yield stress is insensitive to strain rates, and the deformation is spatially uniform for the open-celled aluminum alloy foams in a wide range of strain rates.