A Novel Equivalent Method for Computing Mechanical Properties of Random and Ordered Hyperelastic Cellular Materials

Abstract

Simulating the mechanical behavior of cellular materials stands as a pivotal step in their practical application. Nonetheless, the substantial multitude of unit cells within these materials necessitates a considerable finite element mesh, thereby leading to elevated computational expenses and requisites for formidable computer configurations. In order to surmount this predicament, a novel and straightforward equivalent calculation method is proposed for the computation of mechanical properties concerning both random and ordered hyper-elastic cellular materials. By amalgamating the classical finite element approach with the distribution attributes of cells, the proposed equivalent calculation method adeptly captures the deformation modes and force-displacement responses exhibited by cell materials under tensile and shear loads, as predicted through direct numerical simulation. This approach reflects the deformation characteristics induced by micro-unit cells, elucidates an equivalent principle bridging cellular materials and equivalent materials, and substantially curtails exhaustive computational burdens. Ultimately, this method furnishes an equivalent computational strategy tailored for the engineering applications of cellular materials.