On the creep deformation of nickel foams under compression
Résumé
A finite-element computational strategy is developed to study the viscoplastic deformation mechanisms at work in a nickel foam sample under compression creep. The constitutive law for pure nickel accounts for both diffusional and dislocation creep mechanisms. The finite-element results show the competition between both mechanisms due to the strong heterogeneity of the stress distribution in the foam. The initiation of the viscoplastic buckling phenomenon leading to cell crushing in tertiary creep is illustrated. The overall model prediction is compared to the results of compression creep tests performed in vacuo at 900 °C.