A NOVEL EX-SITU ALUMINUM FOAM-FILLED FOURFOLD-TUBE NESTED SYSTEM AS THE ENERGY ABSORBER

Abstract

The present research introduces a novel thin-walled structure with an outer tube and three inner tubes as an energy absorber during the lateral compression process. Loaddisplacement response and energy absorption capability of the aluminum foam-filled/empty FT (fourfold-tube) nested tube systems, the TT (triple-tube) nested systems were investigated experimentally. In the quasi-static test, all nested systems were compressed laterally on the universal mechanical tester in compression operation, and the results were subsequently compared. Effects of the aluminum foam on the energy absorption capability and the deformation mode of the foam-filled FT system was analyzed. Experimental results show that the presence of aluminum foam improves the symmetry of deformation of the FT nested system, which is very important in enhancing the energy absorption capability of the FT nested system. In dynamic experiments, impact loading apparatuses SHPB (split Hopkinson pressure bar) and dynamic measurement techniques (high-speed imaging and dynamic strain gauge) were used to test the dynamic deformation mode and the shock resistance of the FT nested system and the TT nested system. Results of the FT nested system were compared with results of the TT system to highlights its advantages of the presented novel FT nested system. The researches demonstrate that the foam-filled FT system can provide a better efficient impact force reduction and desired deformation mode compared to empty FT system. The improved aluminum foam-filled FT nested system can be widely used in engineering fields for enhancing its crashworthiness under impact.