X-ray CT imaging and finite element computations of the elastic properties of a rigid organic foam compared to experimental measurements: Implications for foam grade differences and process control

Published

March 17, 2015

Author(s)

Edward Garboczi, Aaron Forster, Jan Miller, Chen-Luh Lin, Cesar Chan, Kumar Natesaiyer, David Song, Suman Sinha-Ray

Abstract

A combined computational/experimental materials science technique was developed for acquiring the structure of a rigid organic foam (ROHACELL) using X-ray computed tomography with appropriate image analysis, computing the elastic moduli using large-scale finite element computations in combination with a new technique, and validating the results with compressive measurements of both Young's modulus and compressive yield strength. Within experimental error, and the limited knowledge existing of the backbone material comprising the foam, good agreement was obtained between imaging/finite element computations and experimental mechanical measurements. Using the new combined experimental/theoretical procedures, it was found that the backbone solid Young's modulus differed by more than a factor of 100 % between two different grades of ROHACELL foam, in accord with the findings of other researchers. It was also found that within a given grade, on the foam samples tested, the backbone modulus for one density foam was smaller by more than 100 % than the other density foams, due to either process or material feedstock variability. Density measurements also gave insight into the variability between different thicknesses and grades of foam.

Citation

Journal of Materials Science

Volume

50

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-8958-4

Local Download

Keywords

ROHACELL®, foam, X-ray computed tomography, finite element, elastic moduli, compressive strength, parallel computing

Citation

Garboczi, E. , Forster, A. , Miller, J. , Lin, C. , Chan, C. , Natesaiyer, K. , Song, D. and Sinha-Ray, S. (2015), X-ray CT imaging and finite element computations of the elastic properties of a rigid organic foam compared to experimental measurements: Implications for foam grade differences and process control, Journal of Materials Science, [online], https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-8958-4, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=917238 (Accessed October 28, 2025)