Mesostructural Model for the Fatigue Analysis of Open-Cell Metal Foams

Metallic foams exhibit unique properties that make them suitable for diverse engineering applications. Accurate mechanical characterization is essential for assessing their performance under both monotonic and cyclic loading conditions. However, despite the advancements, the understanding of cyclic load responses in metallic foams has been limited. This study aims to propose a mesostructural model to assess the fatigue behavior of open-cell metal foams subjected to cyclic loading conditions. The proposed model considers the previous load history and is based on the analogy of progressive collapse, integrating a finite element model, a fatigue analysis model, an equivalent number of cycles model, and a failure criterion model. Validation against experimental data shows that the proposed model can reliably predict the fatigue life of the metallic foams for specific strain amplitudes.