Crashworthiness performance of thin-walled hollow and foam-filled prismatic frusta, Part 2: Experimental study

Abstract

Prismatic or conical frusta are used as crash boxes, absorbing the energy of impact loads in collision, due to their advantages in comparison with circular or parallelepiped tubes (decrease of peak crushing force and stabilization of crushing process). The paper presents results of experimental research into crashworthiness performance and energy absorption effectiveness of thin-walled prismatic frusta of square base, produced from two face to face steel channel sections, joint using the riveting technique. Hollow and filled with polypropylene foam specimens were tested on drop hammer tower. On the basis of impact tests load–deformation characteristics were determined, represented by load-shortening diagrams. Selected crashworthiness indicators (Peak Crushing Force, Crash Load Efficiency, Stroke Efficiency and Total Efficiency) were calculated. Experimental load-shortening diagrams and experimental values of crashworthiness indicators were compared with the results of numerical FE simulations. Validation of the FE model was performed, which was the main objective of the study. FE model and results of the parametric analysis into energy absorption effectiveness of examined frusta was presented in Part 1 of this study: Crashworthiness performance of thin-walled hollow and foam-filled prismatic frusta — FEM parametric study.