Effects of solid distribution on the stiffness and strength of metallic foams

Lightweight metallic cellular materials can be used in the construction of composite plates, shells and tubes with high structural efficiency. Previous models for the mechanical performance of cellular materials have focused on their dependence on relative density, cell geometry and the properties of the solid material of which the cell faces and edges are composed. In this study, we consider the effect of the distribution of solid between the cell faces and edges on mechanical properties using finite element analysis of idealized 2D (hexagonal honeycomb) and 3D (closed-cell tetrakaidecahedral foam) cellular materials. The effects of the distribution of the solid on the stiffness and strength of these materials are presented and discussed. (C) 1998 Acta Metallurgica Inc.