Energy Absorption Behaviour Of Semi-Rigid Polyurethane Foam Under Low Velocity Impact

The current work deals with a study on the energy a bsorption behaviour of semi-rigid polyurethane (PU) foam under dynamic loading conditions. Foam samples of different densities are tested at different strain rates using a low velocity impact testing rig. The samples considered are of densities (75 ±3) kg/m3, (125 ±3) kg/m3 and (175 ±3) kg/m3.The influence of variation in density and impact velocity on the energy absorption capability of PU foams has been studied under compressive loading conditions with a drop-weight impactor. The experimental results reveal that both these parameters (i.e. density and strain rate) have a considerable effect on energy absorption attributes of PU foam. Finally, the experimental stress-strain data is utilized to repr oduce the test behaviors’ of foam under impact loading using explicit finite element analys is