Confinement effects on the dynamic compressive properties of an epoxy syntactic foam

Abstract Dynamic compressive properties of an epoxy syntactic foam at various strain rates under lateral confinement have been investigated with a pulse-shaped split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The quasi-static responses were obtained with an MTS 810 materials test system. The quasi-static and dynamic stress–strain behavior of the foam under confinement exhibited an elastic–plastic-like response whereas an elastic–brittle behavior was observed under uniaxial stress loading conditions. The modulus of elasticity and yield strength, which had higher values than those in uniaxial stress case, were both sensitive to strain rates. However, the strain-hardening behavior under confinement was not strain-rate sensitive. A phenomenological elastic–plastic type of material model was employed to describe the strain-rate-dependent compressive properties of the syntactic foam under confinement, which agreed well with experimental results.