Cross-scale study of heat transfer performance in metal rubber with complex topological structures

Metal Rubber (MR), characterized by its porous topology and metal-based entangled structure, is commonly utilized in high-temperature environments. The intricate nature of MR's structure complicates the accurate experimental investigation of its thermophysical properties, thereby restricting its broader applications. Therefore, based on numerical simulation, the three-dimensional reconstruction of the spatial topology of MR is achieved. Additionally, MATLAB-LS/DYNA-ABAQUS is coupled to replicate the heat transfer process of MR at macro-microscopic scales. Our findings elucidate the relationship between MR's density, number of contact points, and thermal conductivity, revealing a stepwise decrease in thermal conductivity along the forming direction and a spatially varying anisotropic heat transfer mechanism that involves energy feedback on non-forming surfaces. Specifically, at the material level of investigation, a molecular dynamics model for heat transfer in microscopic metal wire contacts was generated. This model enables the simulation and dynamic tracking of atomic group thermal behavior under temperature effects. Finally, equivalent thermal conductivity (ETC) tests were conducted concurrently. By integrating the thermoelectric analogy method, we introduced for the first time a hybrid series-parallel mode and the tortuosity of discontinuous materials. This approach comprehensively considers critical factors such as porosity, temperature, and interlayer thermal resistance, culminating in the development of a predictive numerical model for thermal conductivity in porous metal-based materials. In this study, a bottom-up multiscale research approach is proposed to deeply explore the spatially multidirectional heat transfer mechanisms of microporous metal-based tangled materials, from the material level to the complex topological structural level. Simultaneously, new dimensions are opened for the study of such materials with unique discontinuous structural characteristics.