Effect of Corner Bluntness on Energy Absorbing Capability of Non-circular Metallic Tubes Subjected to Axial Impact

Abstract

The energy absorbing capability is one of the most important aspects of crushing behavior of a structure<br><br>subjected to axial impact. In this paper, a simple practical method is introduced to enhance the crushing<br><br>behavior of this kind of structure. The dynamic explicit simulation of axial impact of metallic energy<br><br>absorbing thin-walled tubes with special shaped cross-section is provided using LS-DYNA software. The<br><br>effect of change in the corners bluntness of non-circular tubes on their energy absorbing capability has<br><br>been studied. Moreover, the mean crushing force, the maximum deformation, and the mass specific energy<br><br>absorption (MSEA) of the tubes were compared. Results show that the energy absorbing capability can be<br><br>significantly improved by choosing proper bluntness of the corners for quasi-triangle- and quasi-square<br><br>shaped tubes. Furthermore, results show an improvement in the energy absorbing capability of quasisquare<br><br>shaped tubes even in comparison with circular one.