The effect of pore sizes on the elastic behaviour of open-porous cellular materials

Abstract

The influence of the pore structure characteristics in open-porous cellular materials on their macroscopic elastic behaviour is investigated by considering three important microstructural features viz. the relative density, the pore-size distribution, and the pore-wall thickness. To this end, a microstructure-informed modelling approach is presented, where all elements of the three-dimensional (3-d) pore structure can be controlled effectively. The results show that while density does dictate the mechanical properties of open-porous solids, the effects of the pore-wall thickness and the pore-size distribution are not negligible and must be considered while developing such materials, in particular those that exhibit a poly-disperse nature and require load-bearing capabilities under finite strains.