Characterization of the Compressive Behavior of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polyurethane Foam at Different Strain Rates

A glass fiber reinforced polyurethane foam (R-PUF), used for thermal insulation of liquefied natural gas tanks, was characterized to determine its compressive strength, modulus, and relaxation behavior. Compressive tests were conducted at different strain rates, ranging from 10−3 s−1 to 10 s−1 using a servohydraulic material testing system, and from 40 s−1 to 103 s−1 using a long split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) designed for materials with low mechanical impedance such as R-PUF. Results indicate that in general both Young’s modulus and collapse strength increase with the strain rate at both room and cryogenic (−170°C) temperatures. The R-PUF shows a linearly viscoelastic behavior prior to collapse. Based on time-temperature superposition principle, relaxation curves at several temperatures were shifted horizontally to determine Young’s relaxation master curve. The results show that Young’s relaxation modulus decreases with time. The relaxation master curve obtained can be used to convert to Young’s modulus at strain rates up to 103 s−1 following linearly viscoelastic analysis after the specimen size effect has been considered.