Large strain compressive response of 2-D periodic representative volume element for random foam microstructures

Alsayednoor, J., Harrison, P. and Guo, Z. (2013) Large strain compressive response of 2-D periodic representative volume element for random foam microstructures. Mechanics of Materials, 66, pp. 7-20. (doi: 10.1016/j.mechmat.2013.06.006)

[img]
Preview
Text
84099.pdf - Accepted Version

1MB

Abstract

A numerical investigation has been conducted to determine the influence of Representative Volume Element (RVE) size and degree of irregularity of polymer foam microstructure on its compressive mechanical properties, including stiffness, plateau stress and onset strain of densification. Periodic two-dimensional RVEs have been generated using a Voronoi-based numerical algorithm and compressed. Importantly, self-contact of the foam’s internal microstructure has been incorporated through the use of shell elements, allowing simulation of the foam well into the densification stage of compression; strains of up to 80 percent are applied. Results suggest that the stiffness of the foam RVE is relatively insensitive to RVE size but tends to soften as the degree of irregularity increases. Both the shape of the plateau stress and the onset strain of densification are sensitive to both the RVE size and degree of irregularity. Increasing the RVE size and decreasing the degree of irregularity both tend to result in a decrease of the gradient of the plateau region, while increasing the RVE size and degree of irregularity both tend to decrease the onset strain of densification. Finally, a method of predicting the onset strain of densification to an accuracy of about 10 per cent, while reducing the computational cost by two orders of magnitude is suggested.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Harrison, Dr Philip
Authors: Alsayednoor, J., Harrison, P., and Guo, Z.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Mechanics of Materials
ISSN:0167-6636
ISSN (Online):1872-7743
First Published:First published online in Mechanics of Materials 66:7-20
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record