Numerical analysis of an open cell foam structure with the use of models based on 2D finite elements

The paper deals with the numerical analysis of foam materials. Open cell foam is investigated. Numerical simulations allow calculating modes of destruction and assessing effective properties of the model structures. Metal as well as polyurethane foams show out interesting properties. They are light, have good acoustic and/or magnetic isolation, have ability to absorb energy of vibration and hits. They are used for sandwich panels, hit absorber s (i.e. as elements of buffer constructions in rail vehicles),fillers of construction parts, bodies of vehicles (i.e. floating combat vehicles), dividing walls on vessels and others. Specially prepared open cell foams show out auxetic properties and shape memory effect. Such materials are very good for seats in aircrafts which may protect pilots and passengers during crashes and restrict heavy backbone injuries. Foams are used for filtering purposes. Foams themselves or in combination with different types of fillers (i.e. elastomers) or ceramic reinforcement may be used for hit energy absorbing panels for military purposes (protection against explosion shock wave and splinters). Presented work is a part of a series of numerical experiments which aim is to investigate the influence of geometry parameters onto effective properties of the foam. Different types of geometries are used for numerical experiments. All the models of single foam cell are based on Kelvin grain geometry. Numerical compression tests performed with the use of models based on 2D finite elements provide studying the process of the structure failure. Effective characteristics of investigated foams show out that such materials would be useful for energy absorbing purposes.