The Al5052-foam copper-Al5052 sandwich plates with 1.0

1.5and 2.0mm foam copper were clinched and the cross-section of the joint was observed intuitively.The tensile-shearing test was carried out to analyze the load carrying capacity and energy absorption capacity of the joint.The fracture of the failure joint was observed by scanning electron microscopy（SEM）

and the failure mechanism of the joint was described from the micro level.The experimental results show that with thickness of the foam copper increase

thickness of the neck is increased

so the undercut is decreased

and the load carrying capacity is increased correspondingly

however

effects on the energy absorption capacity can be ignored.The failure of the joint is characterized by neck failure

and the microstructure exhibits dimple fracture.