Compressive Deformation in Aluminum Foam Investigated Using a 2D Object Oriented Finite Element Modeling Approach

The stochastic nature of aluminum foam structure, having a random distribution of voids, makes it difficult to model its compressive deformation behavior accurately. In this paper, a 2-dimensional simplified modeling approach is introduced to analyze the compressive deformation behavior that occurs in Alporas aluminum foam (Al foam). This has been achieved using image analysis on real undeformed aluminum foam images obtained by VHX-100 digital microscope. Finite element mesh for the cross sectional model is generated with Object Oriented Finite element (OOF) method combined with ABAQUS structural analysis. It is expected that OOF modeling enable prediction of the origin of failure in terms of localized deformation with respect to the microstructural details. Furthermore, strain concentration sites leading to the evolution of the deformation band can be visualized. Thus, this investigation addresses the local inhomogeneity in the Al foam structure. This study implies that the OOF modeling approach combined with experimental observations can provide better insight into the understanding of aluminum foam compressive deformation behavior.