Mechanical characterization of materials which constitute

Abstract

In this paper the author's aim to establish the mechanical characterization of a sandwich structure consisting of two aluminum sheets (ski ns), separated by a metal foam core also in aluminum. The metal foam takes an innovative function in this structure because of its porous matrix structure, which considerably influence the behavior of the structure. The aluminum foam is structurally characterized by their cellular topology (open or closed cell), relativ e density, cell size and shape of th e cells. In this work, the sandwich structure used has a core of closed cell foam, the kind Alpor as with a relative density of 9% [1]. The mechanical characterization of composite structure is performed using a number of different experimental tensile and compression tests, which will allow obtaining the curves of force/displacement. These tests allowed characterizing the mechanical behavior of the composite [2]. The same expe rimental tests were also simulated numerically using the finite element method. The results obtained experimental ly possible to obtain the different parameters needed for the elastoplastic constitutive models us ed in the finite element method. The numerical and experimental results are compared and the conclusions were taken.