Abstract
The study of bending behaviour of thin-walled structures has gained importance since lateral impact is the second most common scenario in automobile crashes. The current paper analyses an effect of partition plates on energy absorption (Ea) of circular profiles under lateral loads. For this purpose, several numerical analyses using Abaqus/Explicit finite element software were carried out. The evaluated specimens have circular cross-sections reinforced by different arrangement of partition plates. In order to get reliable outcome, special emphasis was placed on damage modelling by Johnson-Cook failure model for aluminium. From the results considering a single profile, better Ea was registered for structures with plates in a range from 6% to 34%. Reduction in peak load (Pmax) up to 13% and an increase in crush force efficiency (CFE) in 14.86% was also computed. Regarding profiles with plates, it was determined that crashworthiness performance depends on an arrangement of plates on the cross-section more than their thickness and number. Better performance was obtained when the circular cross-section was reinforced in the longitudinal and transversal direction by 4 plates.
Highlights
Every year an estimated 1.25 million deaths around the world associated to road traffic deaths are reported [1]
In order to mitigate such harmful effects thin-walled structures are widely employed to absorb energy by plastic deformation. In this sense a group of structures denominated multi-cells present better energy absorption performance to be compared with single profiles [3]
Multi-cell structures are characterised by a number of plates connected with each other at various angles and with different edge connectivity
Summary
Every year an estimated 1.25 million deaths around the world associated to road traffic deaths are reported [1]. In order to mitigate such harmful effects thin-walled structures are widely employed to absorb energy by plastic deformation. In this sense a group of structures denominated multi-cells present better energy absorption performance to be compared with single profiles [3]. The evaluated specimens present a square cross-section reinforced by plates in the longitudinal direction. Estrada et al [3] evaluated an effect of the cross-section on energy absorption performance of multi-cell profiles. The numerical simulations determined effectiveness of circular multicell profiles to absorb energy by plastic deformation. In most cases the studies have focused on square base cross-sections but not on multicell circular profiles
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