Fracture characterization of ductile polymer cellular model structures manufactured by FDM

This work addresses specific fundamental and methodological issues regarding the applicability of Fracture Mechanics (FM) testing schemes to polymer open-celled cellular solids with controlled architecture, exhibiting an elastic–plastic response and with pronounced structural heterogeneity at the cell-scale. Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) model structures were manufactured by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and their mode-I fracture response investigated. Structures with different porosity degrees (from ≈20% to ≈70%) were examined, and initiation fracture toughness (J-integral) data determined. Different modes of mechanical macro-confinement experienced by the circular cross-section beam-like structural element were noticed, able to drive a transition from true cellular to solid containing isolated pores.