Strain rate and temperature effects of polymer foam core material

Abstract

The objective of this research is to characterize the effect of high strain rates on polymer foam shear properties at different temperatures through direct shear tests. Three strain rates were considered ranging from quasi-static to simulated wave slamming conditions. The foam core experiments, on polyvinyl chloride and styrene acrylonitrile foam, utilized a modified version of the ASTM C273 standard test procedure. The foam core material shear strength and stiffness increased by as much as 45% and 16%, respectively, over the range of strain rates. The shear strength and stiffness properties of the foam core material showed an inverse relationship with temperature.