Overview
ISO 13314:2011 - Mechanical testing of metals - Ductility testing - Compression test for porous and cellular metals specifies a standardized method to determine compressive properties of porous and cellular metals (including metallic foams) with porosity ≥ 50%. Tests are performed at ambient temperature under quasi-static strain rate conditions to generate force–displacement and stress–strain data for characterizing compressive strength, plateau behavior, energy absorption and related parameters.
Keywords: ISO 13314:2011, compression test, porous metals, cellular metals, metallic foam testing, ductility testing, energy absorption.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and conditions
- Applicable to porous/cellular metals with porosity of 50% or more.
- Ambient test temperature (typically 10 °C to 35 °C; controlled tests often at 23 ± 5 °C).
- Quasi-static strain rate conditions (see standard for specified initial strain-rate requirement).
- Test equipment
- Compression machine verified to ISO 7500-1 (class 1 unless agreed otherwise).
- Polished, plane-ground platen pair (mirror finish) with minimum hardness ~60 HRC; platens aligned to specimen centerline; lubrication permitted.
- Strain measurement via extensometer or platen displacement; extensometer accuracy to ISO 9513 class 1 when used.
- Specimen geometry and sampling
- Cylindrical (recommended) or rectangular specimens.
- All specimen transverse dimensions ≥ 10 × average pore size and not less than 10 mm.
- Height-to-diameter or height-to-edge ratio between 1:1 and 2:1.
- Minimum of three specimens (five recommended); record if foam skin is retained.
- Data acquisition & definitions
- Record force/displacement to derive stress–strain curves.
- Data sampling: ≥30 Hz up to 5% strain (or up to compressive proof strength), then ≥10 Hz.
- Key characteristic values: first maximum compressive strength, plateau stress, plateau end, energy absorption (commonly up to 50% strain or plateau end), and energy absorption efficiency.
- Reporting
- Test report must include reference to ISO 13314:2011, material/porosity/density/pore size, specimen geometry, number of specimens, test conditions, compression speed/strain rate and measured results.
Applications
- Characterizing compressive performance of metallic foams and porous metals used as energy absorbers, acoustic/thermal insulation or lightweight structural components.
- Design and qualification of crashworthy components, automotive crush boxes, impact-mitigating inserts and lightweight structural prototypes.
- R&D, product validation, quality control, and material comparison testing for foam manufacturers and materials laboratories.
Related standards
- ISO 7500-1 - Verification of static uniaxial testing machines.
- ISO 9513 - Calibration of extensometers used in uniaxial testing.
ISO 13314:2011 provides repeatable, comparable compression testing procedures and definitions that support reliable evaluation of porous and cellular metal performance for engineering design and quality assurance.
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