• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.222-229
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mechanical properties of 6061 Al foams, which were fabricated by P/M and multi-step induction heating method, and to build the database, which is needed for computer aided modeling or foam components design. Aluminium foams, consisting of solid aluminium and large quantities of porosities, is widely used in automotive, aerospace, naval as well as functional applications because of its high stiffness at very low density, high impact energy absorption, heat and fire resistance, and greater thermal stability than any organic material. In this study, 6061 Al foams were fabricated for variation of fraction of porosities (%) according to porosities (%)-final heating temperature ( $T_{a3}$) curves. Mechanical properties such as compressive strength, energy absorption capacity, and efficiency were investigated to evaluate the feasibility of foams as crash energy absorbing components. Moreover, effect of the surface skin thickness on plateau stress and strain sensitivity of the 6061 Al foams with low porosities (%) were studied.d.