Impact deformation of rigid polymeric foams: experiments and FEA modelling

The ABAQUS Finite Element package was used to model the impact response of low-density polystyrene foam. Uniaxial compression impact data was used for the material model, rather than the required hydrostatic compression data. The response of the *FOAM material model differed significantly from the polystyrene foam response, especially in simple shear and tension. Predictions were made of the impact response of a pyramidal foam block, and rectangular blocks indented by various shapes, under plane strain conditions. The predicted deformation fields were the same as those in high-speed videos, when crack growth was absent. The predicted indentation forces close to experimental values, except for the small diameter indenter. Major crack growth, in some indentation impacts, caused the force to be significantly lower than that predicted.