Friction Investigation of Closed-Cell Aluminium Foam during Radial-Constrained Test

Abstract

The energy-absorbing capacity and friction phenomena of different closed-cell aluminium foam-filled Al tube types are investigated through experimental compression tests. Concerning the kind of investigation, free, radial-constrained and friction tests occurred. The radial-constrained compression test results confirm that the process requires significantly more compression energy than without the constrain. Pushing away different pre-compressed foams inside the aluminium tube, the static and kinematic frictional resistances can be determined and the energy required to move them can be calculated. Knowing the value of the energy required for the frictional resistance, we can obtain how much of the energy surplus in radially inhibited compression is caused by the friction phenomena. The main goal present study is to reveal the magnitude of friction between the foam and the wall of the tube during the radially constrained test. The investigation used 0.4 and 0.7 g/cm3 density closed-cell aluminium foam whilst a compressive test was applied where the force–displacement data were recorded to calculate the absorbed energy due to friction. Considering the results of the test, it can be stated that 18% of the invested energy was used to overcome friction in the case of lighter foam and almost 23% with 0.7 g/cm3 foam during the radial-constrained test.

Keywords

• friction
• closed-cell aluminium foam
• compression test
• radial constrain
• absorbed energy
• crashworthiness