An Experimental Study On the Mechanic Behaviors of Aluminum Foam Based on the Relative Current Density

By the static and impact experiments for aluminum foam cylindrical specimens were performed, and the effects of initial density, aperture and geometry on the relation of stress and strain were analyzed. Then the plastic behavior of aluminum foam was studied based on the relative current density. The specimens with four kinds of geometry dimension, three kinds of average cell diameter and various initial densities were considered in the tests. The results show that the initial density has significant effect on the relation of stress and strain, but other factors such as aperture and geometry have little effect on it. According to the results obtained, a new kind of description of the aluminum foam′s mechanic character of the plasticity is suggested, that is the relation between stress and relative current density of aluminum foam instead of the relation between stress and strain. This new relation is applicable to both static and impact loading conditions; only different parameter′s values should be inserted for the two cases. By the means, it is found that the plastic behavior of aluminum foam can be depicted uniquely by the relation between stress and relative current density, which is even not affected by the initial density of aluminum foam. Thus, the plastic description of aluminum foam would be simplified greatly.