Application of mean-field approximation to elastic-plastic behavior for closed-cell metal foams Original Research Article

Elastic–plastic properties of closed-cell metal foams were derived using continuum micromechanical model (the equivalent inclusion method and the mean-field approximation). Assuming a hydrostatic internal stress in the cell, the effect of the gas pressure was incorporated into the calculation. The model was developed to the foams with isotropic and anisotropic geometries. The analytical results were compared with the available experimental data and the unit-cell model. Except for foams with high porosity, the micromechanical model agreed well with the experimental elastic–plastic behavior of both isotropic and anisotropic foams. On the other hand, the unit-cell model failed to estimate the mechanical properties of anisotropic foams such as lotus-structured porous metals.