Compressive deformation behavior and strain rate sensitivity of Al-cenosphere hybrid foam with mono-modal, bi-modal and tri-modal cenosphere size distribution

AlSi12Cu1Mg1 aluminium alloy-cenosphere closed cell hybrid foams with different kinds of cenosphere size distribution (mono-modal, bi-modal and tri-modal) are used to see the effect of cenosphere size distribution on their deformation behavior under quasi static compressive loading conditions at different strain rates. The stress strain curves are almost similar type irrespective of the cenosphere size distribution and strain rate. However, the plateau stress and energy absorption increased significantly when one used bi-modal and or tri-modal cenosphere size distribution instead of mono-modal cenosphere size distribution. These plateau stresses and energy absorption also increased marginally with strain rate. The densification strain remained almost invariant with strain rate and cenosphere size distribution. The strain rate sensitivity and strain rate sensitivity parameter is relatively lower in case of bi-modal and tri-modal cenosphere size distribution particularly at higher relative density.