Experimental study of the low-velocity impact behavior of open-cell aluminum foam made by the infiltration method

Abstract

This study examined the behavior and energy absorption of open-cell aluminum foam under different loading conditions. The foam was made by infiltration, a low-cost method that produced a uniform pore distribution. The foam was compressed using two machines with varying impact velocities and weights. The stress–strain and energy absorption curves of the foam were measured and analyzed. The results showed that the strain rate and the impact weight affected the compressive properties and energy absorption of the foam. The strain rate up to 264 s⁻¹ with constant mass did not affect the plateau stress, which was the constant stress in the plastic region. However, at 264 s⁻¹, increasing the impact weight increased the plateau stress and the energy absorption of the foam, which showed that the strain rate sensitivity depended on the impact inertia. The study revealed the dynamic characteristics of open-cell aluminum foam made by infiltration and provided insights for its use in impact protection. The study also showed that infiltration was a reliable and consistent method for making open-cell aluminum foam. The study highlighted the important roles of plateau stress and hardening effect in influencing the energy absorption of the foam under dynamic loading. The study suggested that future studies should consider the impact inertia as a parameter that affects the strain rate sensitivity of the foam.