Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T07:46:38.290Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Energy Absorption by Expanded Bead Polystyrene Foam: Dependence on Fracture Toughness and Bead Fusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

P. R. Stupak  and
J. A. Donovan
P. R. Stupak
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amherst, MA 01003
J. A. Donovan
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amherst, MA 01003
Get access

Abstract

Increased energy absorption and load result when the contact area between an object and a foam cushion is less than the foam area because of an increased foam deformation volume (i.e. “Load Spreading”). The deformed volume is trapezoidal (i.e. not prismatic) and is a function of the foam dimensions and the object geometry. The load spreading effect is greatest when the ratio of the object area to the foam thickness is smallest; a common configuration in commercial packages (Figure 1).

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 207: Symposium I – Mechanical Properties of Porous and Cellular Materials , 1990 , 157
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Gibson, L.J. and Ashby, M.F., Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties, (Pergamon, Oxford, 1988).Google Scholar
2 Gibson, L.J., Mater. Sci. Eng. A110, 1 (1989).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3 Fowlkes, C.W., Int. J. Fract. 10, 99 (1974).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4 McIntyre, A. and Anderton, G.E., Polymer 20, 247 (1979).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5 Zwissler, J.G. and Adams, M.A., in Fracture Mechanics of Ceramics, edited by Bradt, R.C, Vol. 6 (Plenum, New York, 1983) p. 211.Google Scholar
6 Morgan, J.S., Wood, J.L. and Bradt, R.C., Mater. Sci. Eng. 47, 37 (1981).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7 Maiti, S.K., Ashby, M.F. and Gibson, L.J., Scrip. Metal. 18, 213 (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8 Harris, R.F., J. Cell. Plast. Sept.-Oct., 221(1970).Google Scholar
9 Platt, A.E. and Wallace, T.C., in Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, edited by Mark, H, Vol. 21 (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1983) p. 836.Google Scholar
10 Lipson, C. and Sheth, N.J., Statistical Design and Analysis of Engineering Experiments, (McGraw Hill, New York, 1973).Google Scholar
11 Wool, R.P. and O'Conner, K.M., J. Appl. Phys. 52, 5953 (1981).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12 Wool, R.P., Yuan, B.L. and McGarel, O.J., Poly. Eng. Sci. 29, 1340 (1989).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13 Jud, K., Williams, J.G. and Kausch, H.H., J. Mat. Sci. 16, 204 (1981).CrossRefGoogle Scholar