Numerical Evaluation of Compressible Plasticity Behaviour of Metal Foams

Abstract

Yielding phenomenon and plastic flow are numerically investigated on a metal foam model from the macroscopic point of view. Based on the computational geometry technique of Voronoi tessellations, closed-cell foam models are constructed with quadrilateral shell elements, and the mechanical responses are evaluated for a relatively small deformation regime by use of the finite element method. The model material reveals compressible plasticity behavior where the normality rule mostly holds. It is also found that material anisotropy is dominant in plate-like materials and bar-like materials, which should be taken into account in the practical utilization.