The collapse of thick-walled metal tubes with wide external grooves as controllable energy-dissipating devices

Abstract This article focuses on the experimental and theoretical investigation of the axial crushing behaviour of thick-walled tubes with a number of wide grooves, cut from their outer surface, under both static and dynamic loading. While this structure is subjected to axial loading, plastic deformation occurs within the space of each wide groove, and thick portions (grooveless areas) control and stabilize the collapsing of grooved thick-walled tubes. Therefore, the kinetic energy is dissipated by the plastic collapsing of the structure between grooves. In the present study, quasi-static compression tests of specimens with various geometric parameters are performed. Dynamic tests of some specimens using a drop hammer apparatus are also carried out to study the dynamic effects on the collapsing and energy absorption behaviour of the shock absorber. Numerical simulations of axial crushing of the shock absorber under both quasi-static and impact loading, using LS-DYNA finite-element explicit code, are also carried out in this article, and their results are verified with experimental findings. Based on experimental studies, an analysis with consideration of strain hardening effects to predict mean crushing load and energy absorption of the structure under axial compression is developed. Through the performed experimental, numerical, and analytical studies, major parameters in the design of the shock absorber are characterized and possible collapse modes of deformation during axial crushing of the structure are identified. In the present study, experimental and theoretical studies show that the introduced structure can be considered as an efficient energy-dissipating device since it provides favourable crashworthiness characteristics.

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