Impact Response of Circular Aluminum Tube Filled with Polyurethane Foam

Abstract

The behavior of foam-filled thin-walled aluminum tube under impact was investigated focusing on different crashworthiness parameter. The diameter to thickness of tube ranging between 26.5 and 200 were filled with polyurethane foam density from 100–250 kg·m⁻³. The specimens were crushed by a drop hammer. The result from finite element simulation and experiment was compared and good agreement was achieved. The simulation was also used to conduct further investigation on tube with higher diameter to thickness ratio. It was found that by filling foam, the tubes change their collapse modes from asymmetric mode to axisymmetric mode. Also, the energy absorption can be enhanced by filling tube with higher foam density. The impact energy was found to be managed more efficient in foam filled tube as the load efficiency is higher in higher density foam-filled tube. However, the specific energy absorption of foam-filled tube is getting lower in higher density foam. This paper provides experimental and numerical data as well as discussion in various aspects of crashworthiness.