Analytical and experimental investigations into the controlled energy absorption characteristics of thick-walled tubes with circumferential grooves

In this paper, the energy absorption characteristics of grooved circular tubes are investigated under quasi-static loading condition. For experiments, thick-walled tubes with circumferential grooves are prepared. The grooves divide the thick-walled tube into several shorter thin-walled portions. Specimens are subjected to axial crushing load to observe the effect of distribution of circular grooves on the deformation mechanism and energy absorption capacity. Geometrical parameters of the specimens are designed utilizing the Taguchi method to cover a reasonably wide range of groove length-to-wall thickness ratios. An analytical approach based on the concept of energy dissipation through the plastic hinges is applied. Taking the effect of strain hardening into account, the obtained analytical results are in good agreement with the experimental ones. The agreement between analytical and experimental results may indicate the validity of the proposed analytical approach. Desirable mechanism of deformation observed justifies the pre-forming method for obtaining favorable energy absorption characteristics.

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