Response of Filled Thin-Walled Square Tubes to Axial Impact Load

Abstract:

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the response of thin-walled square (60x60 mm and 76x76 mm) tubes made from mild steel filled with four different fillers; aluminium foam (Cymat 7%), two types of aluminium honeycomb and polyurethane foam to quasi-static and dynamic axial impact load. The energy absorption characteristics of the foam-filled tubes are compared to that of a hollow tube, through efficiency calculations. The tubular structures are subjected to axial impact load generated by drop masses of 320 kg and 390 kg released from a height ranging between 2.1 m to 4.1 m. Footage from a high speed camera is used to determine the average crush forces exerted by each specimen. The results show that the fillers have insignificant effects on the initial peak forces based on the quasi-static results but increase the overall mean crushed force. The findings also indicate that the fillers affect at times the size of the lobe formed thus compromising the energy absorption capacity of the tube.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 566)
• Pages: 586-592
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.566.586
• Online since: June 2014
• Authors: Steeve Chung Kim Yuen*, Gerald Nurick, Sylvester Piu, Gadija Ebrahim
• Keywords: Crashworthiness, Foam Fillers, Impact Load, Structural Response, Thin-Walled Tubes

References

[1] S. Chung Kim Yuen and G.N. Nurick; The energy absorbing characteristics of tubular structures with geometric and material modifications: an overview, Applied Mechanics Reviews, doi: 10. 1115/1. 2885138, Vol. 61(2), (2008), pp.020802-15.

DOI: 10.1115/1.2885138

[2] T.Y. Reddy and R.J. Wall; Axial compression of foam-filled thin-walled circular tubes, Int J Impact Eng, Vol. 7(2), (1988), pp.151-166.

DOI: 10.1016/0734-743x(88)90023-1

[3] A.K. Toksoy and M. Güden; The strengthening effect of polystyrene foam filling in aluminum thin-walled cylindrical tubes, Thin-Walled Structures, Vol. 43(3), (2005), pp.333-350.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tws.2004.07.007

[4] Kunze H.D., Baumeister J., Banhart J., and Weber M.; P/M technology for the production of metal foams, Powder Metallurgy International, Vol. 25(4), (1993), pp.182-185.

[5] Santosa S. and Wierzbicki T.; Effect of an ultralight metal filler on the bending collapse behaviour of thin-walled prismatic columns, Int J Mech Sci, Vol. 41(8), (1997), pp.995-1019.

DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7403(98)00066-6

[6] A.G. Hanssen, M. Langseth, and O.S. Hopperstad; Static crushing of square aluminium extrusions with aluminium foam filler, Int J Mech Sci, Vol. 41(8), (1999), pp.967-993.

DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7403(98)00064-2

[7] A.G. Hanssen, M. Langseth, and O.S. Hopperstad; Static and dynamic crushing of square aluminium extrusions with aluminium foam filler, Int J Impact Eng, Vol. 24(4), (2000), pp.347-383.

DOI: 10.1016/s0734-743x(99)00169-4

[8] A.G. Hanssen, M. Langseth, and Hopperstad O. S; Static and dynamic crushing of circular aluminium extrusions with aluminium foam filler, Int J Impact Eng, Vol. 24(5), (2000), pp.475-507.

DOI: 10.1016/s0734-743x(99)00170-0

[9] A.G. Hanssen, M. Langseth, and O.S. Hopperstad; Optimum design for energy absorption of square aluminium columns with aluminium foam filler, Int J Mech Sci, Vol. 43(1), (2001), pp.153-176.

DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7403(99)00108-3

[10] M. Langseth, O.S. Hopperstad, and A.G. Hanssen; Crash behaviour of thin-walled aluminium members, Thin-Walled Structures, Vol. 32(1/3), (1998), pp.127-150.

DOI: 10.1016/s0263-8231(98)00030-5

[11] S.P. Santosa, T. Wierzbicki, A.G. Hanssen, and M. Langseth; Experimental and numerical studies of foam-filled sections, Int J Impact Eng, Vol. 24(5), (2000), pp.509-534.

DOI: 10.1016/s0734-743x(99)00036-6

[12] M. Seitzberger, R.F. Rammerstorfer, H.P. Degischer, and R. Gradinger; Crushing of axially compressed steel tubes filled with aluminium foam, Acta Mechanica, Vol. 125, (1997), pp.93-105.

DOI: 10.1007/bf01177301

[13] S. Santosa and T. Wierzbicki; Crush behaviour of box columns filled with aluminium honeycomb or foam, Computers and Structures, Vol. 68(4), (1998), pp.343-367.

DOI: 10.1016/s0045-7949(98)00067-4

[14] T.Y. Reddy and S.T.S. Al-Hassani; Axial crushing of wood-filled square metal tubes, Int J Mech Sci, Vol. 35(3/4), (1993), pp.231-246.

DOI: 10.1016/0020-7403(93)90078-9

[15] W. Abramowicz and N. Jones; Dynamic axial crushing of square tubes, Int J Impact Eng, Vol. 2(2), (1984), pp.179-208.

DOI: 10.1016/0734-743x(84)90005-8

[16] W. Abramowicz and N. Jones; Static and dynamic axial crushing of circular and square tubes, Metal Forming and Impact Mechanics, Pergamon Press, Oxford, (1985), pp.225-247.

DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-08-031679-6.50021-7

[17] N. Jones; Structural Impact, Cambridge University Press, UK, ISBN: 9781107010963, 2, (2011), pp.1-604.

[18] S.B. Bodlani, S. Chung Kim Yuen, and G.N. Nurick; The Energy Absorption Characteristics of Square Mild Steel Tubes With Multiple Induced Circular Hole Discontinuities--Part I: Experiments, J Appl Mech, ASME, Vol. 76(4), (2009), pp.041012-11.

DOI: 10.1115/1.3114967

[19] N. Jones; Energy-absorbing effectiveness factor, Int J Impact Eng, Vol. 37(6), (2010), pp.754-765.