Effects of cell geometry on the compressive properties of nickel foams

Abstract

The compressive properties of three kinds of nickel foams with different cell sizes were investigated. The stress-strain curves showed a plateau region. The cell size had a minor influence on the plateau stress when the stress was normalized with the relative density and the yield stress of the cell edge material. Compressive tests were also performed under loading conditions along different axes in the foam with elliptical cells. As a result, the foam was stronger for loading in the major axis direction, compared with in the minor axis direction. Therefore, it has been demonstrated that the cell aspect ratio produces a certain influence on the plateau stress of foam, whereas the cell size appears to have a negligible effect.