title: Experimental investigation of the mechanical stiffness of periodic framework-patterned elastomers.
abstract: Recent advances in the cataloguing of three-dimensional nets mean a systematic search for framework structures with specific properties is now feasible. Theoretical arguments about the elastic deformation of frameworks suggest characteristics of mechanically isotropic networks. We explore these concepts on both isotropic and anisotropic networks by manufacturing porous elastomers with three different periodic net geometries. The blocks of patterned elastomers are subjected to a range of mechanical tests to determine the dependence of elastic moduli on geometric and topological parameters. We report results from axial compression experiments, three-dimensional X-ray computed tomography imaging and image-based finite-element simulations of elastic properties of framework-patterned elastomers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Mathematics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Francois
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arnoux
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Hyde
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saadatfar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saba
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Senden
keywords: elasticity; periodic framework; porous materials