Dynamic Analysis of Impact Attenuation Systems Utilizing Plastic Deformations : Case in Which Effect of Strain-rate Sensitivity Is Considered

Abstract

An impact attenuation system whose idealized static load-displacement curve consists of an elastic range and unrestricted plastic flow is represented by a dynamically equivalent model which takes into account elasticity, viscosity, plasticity and strain-rate sensitivity of the structure, and its dynamic response to the impact by a moving mass is analyzed. The theoretical results are in fair by good agreement with the experimental results on mild-steel simply supported beams. An analysis is also made by regarding the equivalent model of the impact attenuation systems as Bingham's model and the results are compared with the theoretical results by the author's model and the experimental results. Moreover, comparisons between the experimental and theoretical results on plastic impact of beams given by Parkes and the theoretical predictions by author's model are made.