Strain rate sensitivity of closed cell aluminium fly ash foam

With the increasing use of metal foams in various engineering applications, investigation of their dynamic behaviour under varying strain rate is necessary. Closed cell aluminium fly ash foam developed through liquid metallurgy route was investigated for its stress-strain behaviour at different strain rates ranging from 700 s(-1) to 1950 s(-1). The numerical model of split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) was simulated using commercially available finite element code Abaqus/Explicit. Validation of numerical simulation was carried out using available experimental and numerical results. Full scale stress-strain curves were developed for various strain rates to study the effect of strain rate on compressive strength and energy absorption. The results showed that the closed cell aluminium fly ash foam is sensitive to strain rate.