Title: Hyperelastic and dynamical behaviour of cork and its performance in energy absorption devices and crashworthiness applications

Authors: M. Paulino, F. Teixeira-Dias, C.P. Gameiro, J. Cirne

Addresses: GRIDS-DAPS Division of Armour & Protection Systems, Dep. Engenharia Mecanica, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitario de Santiago, 3810 – 193 Aveiro, Portugal. ' GRIDS-DAPS Division of Armour & Protection Systems, Dep. Engenharia Mecanica, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitario de Santiago, 3810 – 193 Aveiro, Portugal. ' GRIDS-DAPS Division of Armour & Protection Systems, Dep. Engenharia Mecanica, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitario de Santiago, 3810 – 193 Aveiro, Portugal; Centro de Engenharia Mecanica da Universidade de Coimbra, Dep. Engenharia Mecanica, FCTUC, Universidade de Coimbra, Polo II, Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030 – 788 Coimbra, Portugal. ' Centro de Engenharia Mecanica da Universidade de Coimbra, Dep. Engenharia Mecanica, FCTUC, Universidade de Coimbra, Polo II, Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030 – 788 Coimbra, Portugal

Abstract: The incorporation of micro-agglomerated cork in structural and impact applications is studied. A numerical study on cellular materials commonly used in energy absorption applications is presented. The mechanical behaviour under impact loading of polyurethane foam, IMPAXX™ 300, aluminium foam and micro-agglomerated cork is studied using analytical models and finite element analyses. A performance index is proposed to evaluate cellular materials| behaviour in terms of impact energy absorption, leading to the characterisation of each material in terms of crashworthiness. The results obtained regarding energy absorption capability indicate that polyurethane foam globally presents the worst results. Aluminium foam is the material with higher energy absorption capability, followed by cork. However, IMPAXX™ is the material presenting the best results of specific energy absorption, followed by cork. Micro-agglomerate cork and aluminium foam present the lowest values of the impact acceleration peak. Cork exhibits the best acceleration peak values for higher energies.

Keywords: cork; cellular materials; energy absorption; impact loading; polyurethane foam; crashworthiness; numerical simulation; finite element method; FEM; hyperelasticity; dynamic behaviour.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2009.029364

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2009 Vol.1 No.2, pp.197 - 234

Published online: 23 Nov 2009 *

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