Large Deformation Analysis for Soft Foams Based on Hyperelasticity

Abstract

AbstractIn Elastomeric foam materials find wide applications for their excellent energy absorption properties. The mechanical property of elastomeric foams is highly nonlinear and it is essential to implement mathematical constitutive models capable of accurate representation of the stress-strain responses of foams. A constitutive modeling method of defining hyperfoam strain energy function by a Simplex Strategy is presented in this work. This study will demonstrate that a strain energy function of finite hyperelasticity for compressible media is applicable to describe the elastic properties of open cell soft foams. This strain energy function is implemented in the FE-tool ABAQUS and proposed for high compressible soft foams. To determine this constitutive equation, experimental data from a uniaxial compression test are used. As the parameters in the constitutive equation are linked in a non-linear way, non-linear optimization routines are adopted. Moreover due to the in homogeneities of the deformation field of the uniaxial compression test, the quality function of the optimization routine has to be determined by an FE-tool. The appropriateness of the strain energy function is tested by a complex loading test.By using the optimized parameters the FE-simulation of this test is in good accordance with the experimental data.