Elastic moduli of model random three-dimensional closed-cell cellular solids

Most cellular solids are random materials, while practically all theoretica l structure-property results are for periodic models. To be able to generat e theoretical results for random models, the finite element method (FEM) wa s used to study the elastic properties of solids with a closed-cell cellula r structure. We have computed the density (rho) and microstructure dependen ce of the Young's modulus (E) and Poisson's ratio (PR) for several differen t isotropic random models based on Voronoi tessellations and level-cut Gaus sian random fields. The effect of partially open cells is also considered. The results, which are best described by a power law E infinity rho (n) (1< n<2), show the influence of randomness and isotropy on the properties of cl osed-cell cellular materials, and are found to be in good agreement with ex perimental data. (C) 2001 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.