Hyperelastic foams have excellent impact energy absorption capability and can experience full recovery following impact loading. Consequently, hyperelastic foams are selected for different applications as shock isolators. Obtaining accurate intrinsic dynamic compressive properties of the hyperelastic foams has become a crucial step in shock isolation design and evaluation. Radial inertia is a key issue in dynamic characterization of soft materials. Radial inertia induced stress in the sample is generally caused by axial acceleration and large deformation applied to a soft specimen. In this study, Poisson’s ratio of a typical hyperelastic foam – silicone foam – was experimentally characterized under high strain rate loading and was observed to drastically change across the densification process. A transition in the Poisson’s ratio of the silicone foam specimen during dynamic compression generated radial inertia which consequently resulted in additional axial stress in the silicone foam sample. A new analytical method was developed to address the Poisson’s ratio-induced radial inertia effects for hyperelastic foams during high rate compression.
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