The efficiency was independent of relative density for each foam, and the average values are summarised in Table 2. The lower efficiency of Alcan foam in the through-thickness direction reflects the strong density gradient in this direction. Honeycombs, for comparison, have an efficiency between 88 and 96%, though they are, of course, exceedingly anisotropic. Predictions of the stiffness and strength models of Section 2 require data for the cell wall modulus , yield strength sy and density rs. We took Es=70 GPa, rs=2700 kg m−3, f=0.75, and sy=160 MPa for the Alporas foam and 250 MPa for the Alcan foam; these values were derived from microstructural observations and from microhardness measurements of the cell edges. Table 3 shows a comparison between the predicted and measured stiffness and strength. It is clear that the stiffness and strength of the two foams are significantly less than the predictions (1) and (2), which were derived and validated for polymeric foams. The discrepancy is ascribed to the high level of imperfection within the metallic foams (e.g. missing cells, cell wall waviness and curvature, holes, fractured cell walls, inclusions and non-uniformity of local density).