THE EFFECT OF LOADING RATE AND DIRECTION OF FORMATION ON FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS (original) (raw)

Size Effect on Fracture Toughness of Rigid Polyurethane Foams

Solid State Phenomena, 2012

This paper presents the size effect on fracture toughness of polyurethane foams (PUR 40), with nominal density 40 kg/m 3 , closed-cell rigid foams widely used for sandwich cores. Determination of the fracture toughness was carried out by three-point bending tests (TPB), on notched specimens, at room temperature (20±2ºC). To determine the size effect in Mode I fracture toughness, specimens geometrically similar in two dimensions with length-to-width ratio 5:2 were selected. The specimens were subjected to a quasi-static loading with a speed of 2 mm/min, which was applied exactly on the notch direction. A strong size effect in the closed-cell PUR foam is experimentally demonstrated, by considering a smooth transition between strength of materials approach (with no size effect) and asymptotic case of linear elastic fracture mechanics.

On fracture toughness of polyurethane foams

2013

Polyurethane (PUR) foam materials are widely used as cores in sandwich composites, for packing and cushioning. They are made of interconnected networks of solid struts and cell walls incorporating voids with entrapped gas, Fig. 1. Of particular interest is the fracture toughness of such foams because foam failure weakens the structure's capacity for carrying loads. Many efforts have been made in recent years to determine the fracture toughness of different types of foams in static and dynamic loading conditions. Micromechanical models and experimental investigations were used for estimating the fracture toughness. This paper presents the polyurethane foam fracture toughness results obtained for different foam densities. Single edge notch bend specimens were tested at room temperature and with different loading speeds. Our results are presented together with other experimental results and correlations related to micromechanical models are made.

A comparison between dynamic and static fracture toughness of polyurethane foams

Polymer Testing, 2013

The paper presents a correlation between dynamic and static fracture toughness of polyurethane rigid foams. Static three point bend tests and instrumented impact tests were performed using single edge notch specimens. The obtained results show that for all foam densities the dynamic fracture toughness is higher than the static toughness. Density appears to have the main influence on both static and dynamic fracture toughness. A quasi brittle fracture without plastic deformations and cushioning was observed for all foam densities.

DETERMINATION OF MIXED MODE FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF PUR FOAMS ODREĐIVANJE ŽILAVOSTI LOMA MEŠOVITOG TIPA KOD PU PENA

Polyurethane foams crush in compression and have a brittle fracture in tension, so their failure could be evaluated based on Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics. Fracture toughness in mixed mode loading is of particular interest because foam cracking weakens the structure's capacity for carrying loads. The mixed mode fracture of three closed cell rigid polyurethane foams with densities: 100, 145 and 300 kg/m 3 are experimentally investigated. Mixed mode fracture tests are performed using a single edge cracked specimen and a mixed mode loading device. The advantages of this specimen are the simple geometry and the ability to produce full range of mixed modes, from pure mode I to pure mode II, only by changing the loading direction. Fracture criteria based on the cellular topology and tensile strength of the solid material is assessed. It is found that the density of foams is the most important parameter influencing the fracture toughness. The crack propagation angles are also determined on the fractured specimens

Shear and mode II fracture of PUR foams

Polyurethane (PUR) foam materials are widely used as cores in sandwich composites, for packing and cushioning. They are made of interconnected networks of solid struts and cell walls incorporating voids with entrapped gas. The main characteristics of foams are lightweight, high porosity, high crushability, and good energy absorption capacity. Fracture toughness in mixed mode loading is of particular interest because foam cracking weakens the structure's capacity for carrying loads. Present paper assesses the shear elastic (shear modulus) and mechanical (shear strength) properties of polyurethane foams. Also, three different types of specimens were used to determine mode I and mode II fracture toughness. The shear modulus, shear strength and fracture toughness increases with increasing foam density. Also the effect of loading direction and loading speed is investigated. The authors propose a micromechanical model to estimate fracture toughness based on the tensile strength of the solid material and the topology of the cellular structure.

Refinements on fracture toughness of PUR foams

Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 2013

Many efforts have been made in recent years to determine the fracture toughness of different types of foams in static and dynamic loading conditions. Taking into account that there is no standard method for the experimental determination of the fracture toughness of plastic foams different procedures and specimens were used. This paper presents the polyurethane foam fracture toughness results obtained for different foam densities. Two types of specimens were used for determining fracture toughness in modes I, II and a mixed one, and also the size effect, loading speed and loading direction were investigated. The paper proposed correlations for density, cell orientation and mixed mode loading based on the experimental testing results.

Dynamic fracture toughness of polyurethane foam

Polymer Testing, 2008

This paper is a first attempt to determine the dynamic fracture toughness of polyurethane foam and to study the effect of impregnation on the fracture toughness. Instrumented impact tests were performed using notched specimens. In order to study the effect of impregnation on the impact properties two different resins were used. The obtained results show that the impregnation increases the dynamic fracture toughness by 27%.

Evaluation of mixed mode fracture for PUR foams

Polyurethane foams crush in compression and have a brittle fracture in tension, so their failure could be evaluated based on Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics. Fracture toughness in mixed mode loading is of particular interest because foam cracking weakens the structure's capacity for carrying loads. Four fracture criteria (Maximum circumferential tensile stress, Minimum strain energy density, Maximum energy release rate, Equivalent stress intensity factor) were considered for evaluation of mixed mode fracture of three closed cell rigid polyurethane foams with densities: 100, 145 and 300 kg/m3. Mixed mode fracture tests were performed using asymmetric semi-circular specimen. The equivalent stress intensity factor criterion looks to give the better prediction of mixed mode fracture. Also the effect of cell orientation and the crack propagation angle were investigated.

Is Fracture Toughness of PUR Foams a Material Property? A Statistical Approach

Materials

The published data on the experimentally determined fracture toughness of foams are based on a small number of specimens, having a lack of statistical consistency. The paper proposes a statistical approach on the fracture toughness results of rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams of three different densities. Five types of fracture tests were considered. The results were statistically analyzed using six types of regressions and a meta-analysis to identify the factors influencing the fracture toughness. The statistical analysis indicates that the fracture toughness represents a material property because does not depend on the specimen type. The density plays a major role in the fracture toughness of PUR foams. The irregular shape of the cells induced small anisotropy for low-density foams (100 kg/m3 and 145 kg/m3). This effect could not be observed for the foam with 300 kg/m3 density, for which the cells have a more regular spherical shape. The statistical analysis indicates that the influe...

Modeling the mode I fracture toughness of anisotropic low-density rigid PUR and PIR foams

International Journal of Fracture, 2017

Low-density foams have to possess a sufficient resistance to cracking in order to ensure the mechanical integrity of foam materials in service, even when not intended for load-bearing applications. In this study, mode I fracture toughness in the foam rise direction has been experimentally characterized for anisotropic rigid commercial polyurethane foams as well as for polyisocyanurate foams produced using polyols derived from rapeseed oil and filled with a montmorillonite nanoclay. Rectangular parallelepiped unit-cell based scaling relations expressing foam toughness via its relative density, cell dimensions, geometrical anisotropy, and the ultimate tensile stress of the base polymer have been employed for prediction of foam toughness. Assuming a brittle fracture of foam struts, a conservative estimate of toughness is obtained. It is demonstrated that considering the yielding of foam struts at the crack front as the criterion of crack extension provides a closer estimate of foam toughness.