MICROBUCKLING INSTABILITY IN ELASTOMERIC CELLULAR SOLIDS

Compressive properties of elastic cellular solids are studied via expe riments upon foam and upon single-cell models. Open-cell foam exhibits a monotonic stress-strain relation with a plateau region; deformation is localized in transverse bands. Single-cell models exhibit a force- deformation relation which is not monotonic. In view of recent concept s of the continuum theory of elasticity, the banding instability of th e foam in compression is considered to be a consequence of the non-mon otonic relation between force and deformation of the single cell.