Aluminum foam materials have gained significant attention over the past decade, particularly in the automotive industry, due to their excellent stiffness-to-weight ratio and superior energy absorption capabilities. In this study, a multiscale numerical material model was developed to accurately and efficiently simulate the vibrational behavior of aluminum foams. The foam specimens were categorized into four density classes based on their measured mass and calculated volume. Two specimens were selected to conduct CT (computerized tomography) scans and quantify the volume of air in their density class. Based on the CT measurements, a representative volume element (RVE) was built using ANSYS Material Designer (MD). The newly obtained material was employed in conducting normal mode numerical simulations. The resonance frequencies and response amplitudes were compared with physical experiments and showed correlation within 3%. These findings underscore the efficacy of using CT scans in foam to develop material models and accurately predict structural behavior. By conducting comprehensive investigations and numerical simulations, we established a correlation between physical tests and simulation results, highlighting the reliability of the developed models.
Bădăluţă et al. (Tue,) studied this question.