Mechanical properties of cement foams in shear

Existing models indicate that the mechanical properties of brittle foams in shear depend on relative density, cell size, cell geometry and the modulus of rupture of solid cell walls. A series of mechanical testing on alumina cement foams with various relative densities were conducted to measure their shear modulus, shear strength and fracture toughness. Experimental data are compared to the existing theoretical models. Results suggest that the existing models for closed-cell foams are applicable to describe the mechanical properties of alumina cement foams in shear. Also, the microstructure coefficients included in the theoretical expressions for mechanical properties of alumina cement foams have been determined. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.