Microbuckling instability in elastomeric cellular solids

Compressive properties of elastic cellular solids are studied via experiments upon foam and upon single-cell models. Open-cell foam exhibits a monotonic stress-strain relation with a plateau region; deformation is localized in transverse bands. Single-cell models exhibit a force-deformation relation which is not monotonic. In view of recent concepts of the continuum theory of elasticity, the banding instability of the foam in compression is considered to be a consequence of the non-monotonic relation between force and deformation of the single cell.