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Viscoelastic response and deformation mechanics of polymeric foams under cyclic compression
Foster, Moira
Foster, Moira
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Lamberson, Leslie
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2025
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Foster_mines_0052E_13042.pdf
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- Embargoed until 2026-11-11
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2026-11-11
Abstract
Flexible polymeric foams are widely used in energy absorption applications, from protective gear to engineered structural components, yet their response to cyclic compressive loading remains poorly understood. This study investigates the viscoelastic behavior and fatigue mechanisms of polyurethane and silicone foams under intermediate strain-rate cyclic compression using a combination of advanced experimental techniques, including dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) with Fourier transform rheology (FTR) and in-situ computed tomography (CT) imaging. Experiments on open-cell polyurethane foams reveal that stiffness and damping decline over cyclic loading, with degradation rates strongly influenced by material chemistry and strain rate. High-resolution CT imaging further uncovers that deformation is driven by pore collapse and structural instabilities rather than changes in cellular geometry. Statistical analysis supports these findings. Extending these methods to additively manufactured open-cell silicone lattice foams, the study identifies comparable trends in stiffness decay, with a direct correlation between viscoelastic nonlinearity and fatigue behavior across different pore structures and strain rates. The findings advance our understanding of how foam microstructure and loading conditions interact to influence long-term mechanical performance. By connecting viscoelastic response with deformation mechanisms, this work establishes a framework for designing durable, energy-absorbing materials tailored for applications requiring reliable performance under repetitive loading.
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