Meso-modeling of Closed-Cell Aluminum Foam Under Compression Loading

In this study, aluminum foam modeling in the mesoscale has been done under compression loading to consider the closed-cell aluminum foam deformation behavior. The detailed geometry of aluminum foam in mesoscale was developed using a micro-CT scan. The shape of aluminum foam cells was modeled as a circle with various radius. The data of the radius was calculated using ImageJ software. It was known that the distribution of the cell radius is normal. The cells were constructed randomly using MATLAB following a normal distribution. The finite element software LS-DYNA was used for compression loading on closed-cell aluminum foam 2D simulation. It was revealed that cell walls were collapsed during compression until dense, which caused densification. The compressive stress–strain curve was generated from compression simulation for relative density 0.15 and various strain rates. The numerical result for compression was in good agreement with the experimental result.