Strength and Energy Absorption of Aluminium Foam Under Quasi-Static Shear Loading

摘要

Experiments were carried out to examine the behaviour of aluminium foams under quasi-static shear loading. Special fixtures were designed to clamp the both ends of a beam-like specimen while the load was applied via a punch, which led to failure by shearing along the clearance near the fixed end. Specimens were made of CYMAT foams with two nominal relative densities (12% and 17%) and several values of width. This study focuses on the maximum strength under shear and the essential energy in fracture. It has been found that the ultimate shear force increases linearly with the width of the beam, so does the total energy absorbed. Two empirical formulae have been obtained which relates to the relative density, respectively, the ultimate shear strength and energy absorbed in shearing.