ANALYSIS OF CLOSED CELL METAL COMPOSITES

Composites of closed metal cells, in which the cells have uniform wall thickness and which confine a fluid in their interior, are modeled us ing cylindrical cells with square, hexagonal and circular cross sectio ns. The analysis of their predicted mechanical behaviors in compressio n includes the effects of fluids and pressure in the cell interiors. A specialized finite element program is developed to account for the in ternal pressure. The finite element calculations predict the compressi ve stiffness of filled cell composites. Results for elastic and plasti c cell wall deformation are also presented. Compared to the ambient ai r cell structures, the composites if internally pressurized or fluid-f illed cells show increased compressive stiffness and delayed onset of plastic yielding.