Modelling of cellular materials by a microsphere‐based material model

Abstract

Metal foams are a very interesting class of cellular materials which, due to their structure, can be used both for lightweight construction and for the absorption of kinetic energy. They have a microheterogeneous structure, which makes it difficult to simulate these materials efficiently. Although microstructure models are very precise in terms of strut size and pore geometry, they are very computationally intensive due to their high resolution and therefore do not allow the simulation of entire components. While continuum models that do not resolve the specific microstructure are very efficient, they do not allow the influence of variations in strut size, strut geometry or pore size to be modelled directly by the simulation. Therefore, simulation approaches such as microsphere models are necessary, which combine the macroscopic component scale with the microscopic microstructure.