Characterisation of EPS Foams under Combined Shear-Compression Loading

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Abstract

Polymer foams are extensively used in lightweight structures, often as energy absorbers. Since most of the loading modes in real life are complex, characterization of core materials under multi-axial loading is of great importance. In this work, a new testing apparatus for measuring combined shear-compression loading of sandwich core materials has been developed. The behavior of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foams has been studied in quasi-static mode. Three different densities of EPS foam have been tested under different angles of displacement (the resultant of shear and compression displacement), particularly 0° 15°, 45°, and 60°.The results reveal that the parameters such as energy absorption in (shear and compression) up to densification, yield stress and elastic modulus of the EPS foam have a strong dependency on the angle of displacement as well as the density of the foams.