Modelling compressive cyclic stress-strain behaviour of structural foam

Polyurethane foam, similar to that used for protection in automotive interi ors has been subjected to continuous compressive cycling. The loading and u nloading stress-strain relationships for any given cycle can be fully descr ibed by applying Ogden's modified model for compressible rubber. The accumu lated dissipated energy that indicates the vibration damping capacity of th e material may be expressed in the form of a simple mathematical function. The concept of loading path dissipated energy (LDE) using the Weibull funct ion has been applied to express the manner in which cyclic damage accumulat es. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.