Dynamic crushing behavior of open-cell aluminum foam with negative Poisson’s ratio

The dynamic crushing behavior of the open-cell aluminum foam with negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) was investigated using the finite-element (FE) method. The plateau stress, the specific energy absorption, and the deformation modes are determined using the FE models. The results indicate that the plateau stress and specific energy absorption (SEA) of NPR open-cell foam under impact loading are less than the conventional foam with the same relative density, and the deformation pattern of NPR open-cell foam material is completely different from the conventional foam material. The NPR open-cell foam material is not suitable for energy absorption under low-velocity impact, but the negative Poisson’s ratio effect on deformation modes becomes smaller with the impact velocity increasing. The length-to-height ratio which is defined for a cell having certain geometric characteristics is a key parameter to design the NPR foams materials.