Quasi-static compressive response and energy absorption properties of aluminum matrix syntactic foams: Room temperature and elevated temperature conditions

Aluminum matrix syntactic foams(AMSF) are lightweight composite foams with functional and structural properties such as low relative density and high energy absorbing nature. These qualities made AMSFs a practical alternative to conventional materials desirable for automotive, aerospace and shipbuilding industries as energy absorbers. Many studies have reported the mechanical aspects of these materials. However, a detailed analysis of energy-absorbing behavior on aluminum matrix syntactic foams is sparse. This work produces alumina -reinforced aluminum syntactic foams using the powder metallurgy route. A systematic study on quasi-static room temperature (RT) and elevated temperature (ET) is conducted to understand the effect of the volume fraction and size of the particle individually. The compressive stress-strain response shows volume fraction and temperature dependency for different particle size ranges. The maximum densification strain (RT-58% and ET -55%) and energy absorption efficiency (RT-70.61% and ET-75.77%) of samples tested in quasi -static-RT and ETs are observed, respectively. Despite large deformation, no sudden drop in stress-strain response and macroscopic stability were observed in the samples.