Numerical modeling of the fracture behavior of open cell foams

The objective of this work is to numerically study the individual and mixed mode fracture behavior of open-cell foams. Three-dimensional tetrakaidecahedron model is adopted and finite element method is employed in analysis. The overall elastic properties of open-cell foams are numerically obtained. Then, modes I, II, III and mixed mode I-II fracture behavior of open-cell foams are numerically predicted respectively, in which both solid/hollow and square/circular strut cross-sections are considered. It is seen that the relationship between the overall critical stress intensity factor and the relative density of foam obeys power law for individual crack problems. Effects of the shape and the topology of strut cross-section are discussed in detail. For mixed mode I-II crack problem, the relationship between K_I/K_IC and K_II/K_IIC is obtained and the effect of the shape of strut cross-section is discussed.