Because deformation modes and fracture mechanisms under multiaxial loads are far from being mastered, our team has recently carried out work on open-cell aluminium foams subjected to multiaxial stress. This original idea consists in creating different biaxial loading complexities combined with compression-torsion through ACPT (see Fig.1). The effect of foam density and the complexity of the load on its mechanical behaviour will be studied for several porosities. This idea has led to a project presented at Cumpas France in the programme (France-Ethiopia). Two PhD students (HULUKA and ISMAEL) were recruited and began their theses in 2020, funded by Cumpas France. The first thesis is purely experimental in which different aluminium foams are studied whereas the other consists in modelling the behaviours of the same foams studied by another thesis using finite elements.

Fig.1 (a) Virtual design and (b) real photo of the final assembly of the ACPT and the aluminium foam.

References:

1) Abdul–Latif A., Menouer A., Baleh R., and Deiab I.M., 2021, “Plastic response of open cell aluminum foams of highly uniform architecture under different quasi-static combined biaxial compression-torsion loading paths,” Materials Science and Engineering B, 266, 115051

Theses:

1) M. Hairedin ISMAEL 2020- 

Topic: Finite element numerical modelling of a new generation of advanced metal foams. Ecole doctorale, université de Cergy-Pontoise (Thesis financed by Campus France)

2) M. Solomon Bayu HULUKA S., 2020- 

Topic: Experimental study on a new generation of advanced aluminium foams. Ecole doctorale, université de Cergy-Pontoise

(Thesis financed by Campus France)