Failure mode of isotropic three-dimensional reticulated porous materials under various compressive loads

The failure mode of isotropic three-dimensional reticulated porous materials under compression has been investigated. A mathematical relationship between nominal main stresses and porosity has been derived for this class of materials at shearing failure under various compressive loads from the simplified structural model of an octahedron. These compressive loads cover all three loading conditions, including uniaxial compression, biaxial compression and triaxial compression. The results indicate that (1) the failure mode is relative to the material species of these porous bodies under compression, (2) the porous body of brittle material species will show the tensile fracture mode of pore struts and (3) the porous body of ductile material species will probably display the shearing fracture mode of pore struts. Through a relevant expression, the criterion of strength design can be enhanced for these porous materials under shearing failure caused by compressive loadings.