Dynamic response and energy absorption of mineral–phenolic foam subjected to shock loading

•Mineral–phenolic foam was investigated at low and medium strain rates.•The strain rate independence of mineral–phenolic foam was demonstrated at low and medium strain rates.•Plastic dissipation energy was measured to be ~300 kJ/m3 at the strain rate of ~70 s−1.

The present work studies the dynamic response of mineral–phenolic foam as well as its energy absorption capacity when subjected to shock loading by means of experimental tests and finite element (FE) analysis. Two experimental campaigns are carried out: the first one studies the uniaxial compressive behaviour al low strain rate (1 × 10−4–1 × 10−1 s−1); in the second campaign the experimental tests are carried out by a shock tube equipment available at Politecnico di Milano with a proper modification of the test set-up. The shock wave generated by the shock tube impinges a steel plate diffuser that is directly in contact with two prismatic foam specimens allowing to reach medium strain rate into the material (50–100 s−1). The experimental investigation has shown the strain rate insensitivity of the material in the range considered. Shock tube tests have shown that the material is characterized by a good specific energy absorption (about 300 kJ/m3) if compared with other polymeric foams. Explicit finite element analyses have allowed a deeper insight into the mineral–phenolic foam dynamic response.

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