As　a　novel　porous　material　with　high　elasticity　and　large　damping　capacity,　elastic-porous　metal　rubber　(EPMR)　is　considered　as　an　ideal　element　for　the　flexible　core　layer　of　sandwich　shell　structure.　The　microstructural　morphologies　of　typical　EPMR　in　the　axial　direction　exhibit　significant　gradient　characteristics,　which　have　not　been　considered　during　the　mechanical　characterizations　so　far.　In　this　work,　the　density　gradient　lamination　model　of　EPMR　was　developed　based　on　fractal　theory.　The　effect　of　heterogeneous　pore　distribution　on　the　mechanical　response　of　EPMR　was　investigated　by　means　of　experimental　and　numerical　methods.　The　results　indicate　that　the　pore　structure　of　EPMR　presents　a　negative　axisymmetric　gradient　distribution　in　the　axial　direction.　The　proposed　density　gradient　lamination　model　effectively　captures　the　super-elastic　deformation　behavior　of　EPMR　subjected　to　compression　loading,　but　there　is　still　a　prediction　gap　concerning　hysteresis　characteristics.　©　2025　Institute　of　Physics　Publishing.　All　rights　reserved.