Effects of load direction on the mechanical properties of open-cellular epoxy with a cubic prism structure

The mechanical properties of open-cellular epoxies with a cubic prism struc ture have been investigated by compressive tests with angles between the be am and the load direction of 0 degrees (90 degrees) and 45 degrees. When th e angle was 45 degrees, the stress fluctuated in a plateau region about a r oughly constant flow up to a strain of 77%. However, when the angle was 0 d egrees (90 degrees), the flow stress changed significantly with the strain passing through a series of peaks. The absorption energy per unit volume wa s found to be essentially independent of the angle between the beam and the load direction.