On the use of a new cell to model geometric asymmetry of metallic foams

This study is concerned with the development of a representative unit cell that is capable of describing the complex geometry of closed-cell metallic foams. The geometry of the cell was derived from careful observation of the foam morphology. The cell consists of a central ellipsoid connected through three perpendicular principal planes, which are in turn connected to a skeletal cubic structure. The basis for this model is such that it can accommodate a certain degree of geometrical asymmetry and anisotropy. Three aspects of the work were examined accordingly. The first was concerned with the validation of the work with the experimental crush tests conducted on 10% density aluminum foam along both in plane and transverse directions. The second was devoted to the evaluation of the effect of key geometrical parameters as well as the load obliquity upon the peak collapse load, the normalized crush load–deformation characteristics, and the corresponding specific energy absorption. The third was concerned with the implementation of a unit cell in an extensive multi-cell finite element model to enable the determination of the crush behavior of metallic foams.