Fatigue of cement foams in axial compression

The theoretical expression for fatigue of cement foams in axial compression is derived using dimensional argument analysis. Bending model and Basquin law for describing the fatigue of individual cell struts are employed in ca lculating the number of cycles to failure of cement foams. It is found that the fatigue of cement foams in axial compression depends on cyclic stress range, relative density and the fatigue parameters of solid material from w hich they are made. A series of tests are conducted on the compressive fati gue of alumina cement foams for various relative densities and cyclic stres s ranges. Experimental results are compared to theoretical modeling; the ag reement is good. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.