Mechanical characterization at intermediate strain rates for rate effects on an epoxy syntactic foam

An intermediate strain-rate mechanical testing technique was developed through proper modifications of a hydraulically driven loading frame (MTS 810) and a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The modified MTS and SHPB were used to obtain valid stress–strain data for an epoxy syntactic foam at intermediate strain rates in the order from 10⁻¹ to 10² s⁻¹. Additionally, lower and higher strain-rate characterization of the foam material was conducted, such that the compressive stress–strain data of the syntactic epoxy foam were obtained at strain rates from 0.005 to 2150 s⁻¹ without any gap in the intermediate strain-rate range. The syntactic epoxy foam exhibited nonlinear strain-rate dependency of failure strength.