The geometric structure of a solid foam is approached using a pentagonal dodecahedron as the unit cell. Important properties of the foam (specific surface area, pressure drop, external fluid-solid mass transfer) are well represented and successfully compared with experiments. The approach enables accounting for triangular or cylindrical struts and solid accumulation at their meeting points. Knowledge of the void fraction and mean strut diameter (or pore diameter) are sufficient for estimating any geometric characteristics. The model has been tested with foams of porosity ranging from 0.75 to 0.98. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.