Axial Crushing Analysis of Sandwich Thin-walled Tubes using Experimental and Finite Element Simulation

Azarakhsh, S.; Rahi, A.

Axial Crushing Analysis of Sandwich Thin-walled Tubes using Experimental and Finite Element Simulation

Document Type : Persian

Authors

Abstract

Application of impact energy absorption systems in different industries is of special significance. Thin-walled tubes, due to their lightness, high energy absorption capacity, long crushing length and the high ratio of energy absorption to weight, have found ever-increasing application as one of the most effective energy absorption systems. In this research, through carrying out experimental tests and finite element simulation, the crushing mechanism of hollow & solid (filled with polyurethane foam), sandwiched, thin-walled structures under the influence of axial, quasi-static loading has been studied. The tested cylindrical samples are made using extrusion method. These samples are compressed between two rigid plates under quasi-static loading conditions, and then the collapse mechanism, the crushing force fluctuations and absorbed energy are determined. A numerical model is presented based on the finite element analysis to simulate the collapse process, considering the non-linear responses of material behavior, contact surface and large deformation effects. Simulation of tested specimen has been executed by ABAQUS software in 3- dimensional models through explicit method. Comparison of numerical and experimental results showed that the present model provided an appropriate procedure to determine the collapse mechanism, crushing load and the amount of energy absorption. The model is used to evaluate the thickness effects of the tube, material quality, imperfection and density of the foam on the mean crush load, energy absorption capacity, and collapse mechanism of cylindrical shells. Research results showed that the existence of foam increases the amount of energy absorbtion in the structures. Increase of energy absorbtion and also increase of average crushing force, in foams with higher density is more evident.

Keywords

References

[1] Alexander J.M., An Approximate Analysis of the Collapse of Thin Cylindrical Shells under Axial Loading, Quart Journal of Mechanical Application Mathematics, Vol. 13, 1960, pp.10-15.

[2] Yamasaki K, Han J., Maximization of Crushing Energy Absorption of Cylindrical Shells, Advanced Engineering Software, 2000, pp.425–34.

[3] Aktay L, Toksoy A.K, Guden M., Quasi-static Axial Crushing of Extruded Polystyrene Foam-Filled Thin-Walled Aluminum Tubes: Experimental and Numerical Analysis, Materials and Design, Vol. 27, 2006, pp.556–565.

[4] Kavi Halit, Toksoy Kaan, Guden Mustafa., Predicting Energy Absorption in a Foam-Filled Thin-Walled Aluminum Tube Based on Experimentally Determined Strengthing Coefficient, Journal ofMaterial and Design, Vol.27, 2006, PP.263-269.

[5] Gupta N.K, Venkatesh., Experimental and Numerical Studies of Impact Axial Compression of Thin-Walled Conical Shells, International Journal Impact Engineering, Vol. 34, 2007, pp.708–720.

[6] Olabi A.G, Morris E, Hashmi M.S.J. and Gilchrist M.D., Optimized design of nested circular tube energy absorbers under lateral impact loading, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, No. 50, 2008, pp. 104-116.

[7] X Zhang, H Huh., Energy absorption of longitudinally grooved square tubes under axial compression, Journal of Thin-Walled Structures, 2009.

[8] Jones, N., Dynamic energy absorption and perforation of ductile structures, International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, No. 87, 2010, pp. 482-492.

[9] S Hou, Xu Han, G Sun., Multiobjective optimization for tapered circular tubes, Journal of Thin-Walled Structures, 2011.

[10] Ghamarian A, Abadi M.T., Axial crushing analysis of end-capped circular tubes, Thin-Walled Structure, Vol.49, 2011, pp. 743-752.

[11] Ghamarian A, Zarei H.R, Abadi M.T., Experimental and Numerical Crashworthiness Investigation of Empty and Foam-filled End capped Conical Tubes, Thin-walled Structure, Vol. 49, 2011, pp.1312–1319.

[12] Tarlochan F and Ramesh S., Composite sandwich structures whitnested inserts for energy absorption application, Composite Structures, No. 94, 2012, pp. 904-9016.

[13] Ghamarian A, Zarei H.R, Farsi M.A, Ariaeifar N., Experimental and Numerical Crashworthiness Investigation of the empty and foam-filled conical Tube with shallow spherical caps, doi:10.1111/str:12028 strain 49, 2013, pp.199-211.

[14] Ahmad Z., Thambiratnam D.P., Crushing Response of Foam-Filled Conical Tubes under Quasi-Static Axial Loading, Materials and Design, Vol. 30, 2009, pp. 2393–2403.

[15] Aljawi A. A. N., Numerical Simulation of Axial Crushing of Circular Tubes, Engineering science, Vol.14, No. 2, 2002, pp. 3-17.