Residual In-plane Mechanical Properties of Transversely Crushed Structural Foams

ABSTRACT: The mechanical properties of structural polymer foams are investi-gated after crushing in the rise direction (out-of-plane axis of a foam material block). The crushed foams are loaded in uniaxial compression, tension, or shear. All tests are performed in the plane of the foam block, i.e., perpendicular to the crushing direction. For comparison, virgin foams are also characterized. The results are discussed featuring the properties of crushed foams, which can be important for the damage tolerance analysis of a foam core sandwich structure. KEY WORDS: sandwich structure, crushed foam core, mechanical properties