Determination of a Simple Geometry for the Characterisation of the Energy Absorption Behaviour of Cast Aluminium

Abstract:

Aluminium cast products are becoming more and more interesting for energy absorbing applications, as a higher functional integration can be achieved with casting processes. Therefore, it is required to find a way to characterise different aluminium alloys regarding their energy absorption behaviour. Energy absorption phenomena in materials depend on the combination of material and geometry on a macro scale level. One of the main contributions of the current research work is to show that the full realization of material absorbing capacity may not be achieved by more complex geometries. Consequently, for the characterisation of cast material under crash load, it is very important to keep the geometry influence on the energy absorption behaviour as low as possible. The ultimate aim herein is to determine an optimised geometry setup to characterise different aluminium casting materials. Three different test geometries were chosen for numerical investigations. All specimens possess the same cross-sectional area and also the same second moment of inertia. The specimens have been tested under an axial crash load at constant speed. Failure has been simulated using a Johnson-Cook damage and failure model. Their absorbing behaviours will be compared and based on the existing literature a theoretical discussion about the geometrical influence will also be given.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 794-796)
• Pages: 628-633
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.794-796.628
• Online since: June 2014
• Authors: Matthias Hartmann*, Kevin Anders
• Keywords: Aluminum (Al), Crush Energy Absorption, Material Characterisation, Numerical Modeling

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