Characterisation of EPS Foams under Combined Shear-Compression Loading

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.