Investigation of Energy Absorption Behaviour of Square Aluminium Tubes with Cutouts under Axial Compression

Abstract

Energy absorbers in the form of hollow profiles are used in automobiles to mitigate energy transfer to passenger cabin during a crash event. A similar event is carried out in this research work to study the progressive compression behaviour of aluminium tubes with triggering mechanisms in the form of cut-outs. Various hollow profiles are used as energy absorbing elements. In this work, square aluminium tubes of 50x50 mm side and 150 mm length with wall thickness of 1.5 mm with cut-outs are tested under axial compression loading and the results are compared with tubes without any cutouts. Crash parameters like minimum compressive force required to fail the aluminium tube, energy absorption, peak load and progressive collapse behaviour are studied. Results reveal that tubes with slots exhibited better crash parameters than plain tubes and tubes with circular cutouts.