This study presents experimental results and analysis of failure of sandwich beams with steel face sheets and polyurethane core tested in three-point bending. Firstly, a series of experiences are conducted in order to obtain the mechanical properties of the metallic face sheets and the foam core. To model the foam behavior, quasi-cyclic tests were performed by increasing the punch stroke. An exponential model is proposed describing the variation of the elastic modulus as a function of the strain. Secondly, the quasi-static and quasi-cyclic bending tests are carried out leading to failure of the sandwich beam. The results of the quasi-cyclic bending show that the behavior of the sandwich beam is similar to the foam behavior in quasi-cyclic compression. Thirdly, a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is performed in order to predict the observed foam fracture in bending test using a shear damage criterion for the foam core. The comparisons show a satisfactory agreement between the experimental results and the FEA predictions.

Anisotropic cellular materials, such as polymeric foams, play an important role in structures subjected to cyclic loadings. The present paper provides an experimental investigation of the mechanical behavior of an anisotropic polyurethane foam subjected to cyclic compressive loadings under two perpendicular orientations: the rising and perpendicular directions. The foam samples are loaded under three different strain rates and various deformations. The experimental results are presented in terms of elasticity modulus, maximal compressive stress, effective energy absorption capacity, and residual strain. It is proved that the investigated polyurethane foam presents a macroscopic mechanical anisotropy caused by microscopic cell elongation in the foaming direction. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the mechanical behavior of the foam is fully influenced by both deformation rates and imposed strains. The experimental stress–strain curves are modelized using an empirical model considering an adjustable modulus of elasticity. The analytical results show a good agreement with the experiments.