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A model which is capable of taking higher order interaction into account was recently proposed. The model is based on Eshelbys equivalent eigenstrains, which enables the calculation of both local and overall properties of the considered heterogeneous material. This model was used for the analysis of the influence of different statistical cell dispersions on variations in local strains and overall properties of the generated cellular material. Preliminary results indicate that for 3D random dispersions the influence of the cell distribution on the cell eigenstrains is rather weak. This suggest that using traditional approaches for modelling stress/strain fields or effective properties of cellular materials may lead to reasonably accurate results despite the fact that direct interaction is neglected. However, as is shown, this may not be the case for dispersions which are not trivial. © 2004 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]