Hyperelastic and dynamical behaviour of cork and its performance in energy absorption devices and crashworthiness applications

The incorporation of micro-agglomerated cork in structural and impact applications is studied. A numerical study on cellular materials commonly used in energy absorption applications is presented. The mechanical behaviour under impact loading of polyurethane foam, IMPAXXTM 300, aluminium foam and micro-agglomerated cork is studied using analytical models and finite element analyses. A performance index is proposed to evaluate cellular materials' behaviour in terms of impact energy absorption, leading to the characterisation of each material in terms of crashworthiness. The results obtained regarding energy absorption capability indicate that polyurethane foam globally presents the worst results. Aluminium foam is the material with higher energy absorption capability, followed by cork. However, IMPAXXTM is the material presenting the best results of specific energy absorption, followed by cork. Micro-agglomerate cork and aluminium foam present the lowest values of the impact acceleration peak. Cork exhibits the best acceleration peak values for higher energies.