High resolution X-ray microtomography based micro finite element analysis of mechanical properties of cellular material

The macroscopic mechanical (elastic) properties of closed foams (ROHACELL) estimated from micro finite element analysis are reported in this paper. The complex 3D geometries of ROHACELL foams with different densities were analyzed using high resolution X-ray microtomography (HRXMT). The microstructures obtained from HRXMT are converted to hexahedra mesh for analysis using the micro finite element method (microFE). Major steps for finite element analysis using "FEBio" coupled with HRXMT data are summarized as follows: Pre Processing (VGrid) - Meshing and elemental properties assignment. PreView - Mesh editing and setting up - material, boundary condition, model, simulation parameters. FEBio (Finite Elements for BioMechanics) - Run FE simulation. PostView - View simulation and post processing. Validation - Comparison with results from experimental compression tests. The relationship between mechanical properties and relative density was investigated and validated with experimental results from compression tests. The elastic stress-strain curves simulated using the microFE method compare very well with the experimental results. The methodology involving the coupling of 3D microCT data with microFE analysis allows for modeling the mechanical properties of similar microstructures to design, produce, and optimize the performance of engineered cellular material.