A Theoretical Model and Experimental Investigation of a Nonlinear Constitutive Equation for Elastic Porous Metal Rubbers

Starting from the theory of porous materials, the nonlinear theory of dry friction, and the model of a bent slender beam, a nonlinear constitutive equation for elastic porous metal rubbers is constructed. Static compressive experiments were carried out on hollow cylinders of such a rubber, from which relations between all coefficients of the constitutive equation and the material density were determined. Based on the data obtained, the constitutive equation of the material was predicted successfully. The effect of density of the metal rubber on its stiffness and on the nonlinear constitutive equation was revealed by experiments.__________Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 449–460, July–August, 2005.