Strain rate effect on the compressive behaviour of a thick cellular structural adhesive

This study focuses on the strain rate effect on the mechanical behavior under compression loading of a thick cellular structural adhesive (TCSA). This material is used as a structural reinforcement and can have different expansion thicknesses in service depending on the gap to fill between parts. Two material expansion thicknesses (5 and 7mm) and therefore two different densities are then studied. Compressive tests were conducted at room temperature (24 degrees C) with a universal testing frame ZwickRoell Z250 for low strain rates from 5 & sdot;10-3 to 0.7s-1 and higher strain rates up to 2000s-1 using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB). The overall mechanical behavior is strain rate dependent due the polymeric nature of the constitutive materials. The sample collapse seems to be also modified with the density and the cellular structure.