Metal Foams: A Design Guide

Activity
Research
Industrial
take-up
0 5 10 15 20
Years
Introduction
Figure 1.2 A more attractive development history than that of Figure 1.1.
Early formulation of design rules, research targeted at characterizing the
most useful properties, and demonstrator projects pull the ‘take-up’ curve
closer to the ‘research’ curve
and loadings; the ways in which the properties of metal foams influence the
use of these formulae are emphasized.
Mechanical design with foams requires constitutive equations defining the
shape of the yield surface, and describing response to cyclic loading and to
loading at elevated temperatures. These are discussed in Chapters 7, 8 and 9.
One potential application for foams is that as the core for sandwich beams,
panels and shells. Chapter 10 elaborates on this, illustrating how the stiffness
and strength of weight-optimized sandwich structures compare with those of
other types. Chapters 11, 12 and 13 outline the use of metal foams in energy,
acoustic and thermal management. Chapter 14 describes how they can be cut,
finished and joined. Chapter 15 discusses economic aspects of metal foams
and the way economic and technical assessment are combined to establish
viability. Chapter 16 reports case studies illustrating successful and potential
applications of metal foams. Chapter 17 contains a list of the suppliers of
metal foams, with contact information. Chapter 18 lists Web sites of relevant
research groups and suppliers. The Guide ends with an Appendix in which
material indices are catalogued.
1.2 Potential applications for metal foams
Application Comment
Lightweight structures Excellent stiffness-to-weight ratio when loaded in
bending: attractive values of E 1/3 / and
1/2 / – see Chapter 5 and Appendix
y
3
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