Fabrication and experimental investigation of a porous zinc alloy structure

A porous structure has been designed and fabricated to generate very regular shaped pores. The porous structure has 20% porosity with a relative density of 0.8. Radiographic examinations conducted on the samples confirmed regular shaped porous structure throughout. Compression testings were carried out on the samples at three different strain rates viz. 7.93 × 10e-5/ sec, 7.93 × 10e-4/ sec and 3.96 × 10e-2/ sec respectively and the nominal stress-nominal strain graphs were plotted with 0.2% proof strength taken as the onset of yield in the structure, the testing revealed an approximately elasto-plastic strain rate sensitive response behaviour in the yield strength as well as plateau region of the porous samples. Energy absorption analysis was carried out up to ≅0.25 strain. The method described in this paper can be used to generate and study different kinds of porous structures.