The influence of crack-like defects on the tensile strength of an open-cell aluminum foam

The role of notch-like defects on the strength of an open-cell aluminum foam was studied. No stable crack growth was observed, the entire uncracked section failed when a peak load was reached. The net section stress increased with increasing notch size, indicating a notch strengthening effect. A simple model, accounting for tensile yield in the ligament between the notches and shearing adjacent to the notches, gives good description of the tensile strength data.