Multiaxial yield surface of transversely isotropic foams: Part II—Experimental

Abstract A robust understanding and modeling of the yield behavior in solid foams under complex stress states is essential to design and analysis of optimal structures using these lightweight materials. In pursuit of this objective a new custom-built Multi-Axial Testing Apparatus (MATA) is developed to probe the yield surface of transversely isotropic Divinycell H-100 PVC foam under a multitude of uniaxial, biaxial and triaxial strain paths. Experimental yield data produced constitutes the most comprehensive data set ever produced for any foam as it covers the entire spectrum of stress paths from hydrostatic compression to hydrostatic tension. Experimental results reveal that yielding in foams exhibits not only a quadratic pressure dependence, which is widely recognized in literature, but also a significant linear pressure dependence, which has been largely overlooked in previous studies. A new energy-based yield criterion developed for transversely isotropic foams is also validated using the experimental yield data.