Quasi-Static Crushing of Aluminum Foam-Filled Thin-Walled Aluminum Tubes

Abstract

The effect of aluminum foams with different cell structure on the quasi-static compression behavior and energy absorption of aluminum tubular structures was investigated. For comparison, empty tubes and aluminum foams with different cell structure were also tested, respectively. The results indicated that the value of crushing peak load of aluminum foam-filled tubes increases from 57.88% (1.94mm cell size) to 89.33% (1.22mm cell size) respectively compared with 2.83mm cell size. Splitting deformation of foam filling was found to effect in increasing the extra contact between the foam filling and the tube during progressive crushing, which increases the lateral compressive forces on the tubes. The energy absorption of aluminum foams filled aluminum tubes was also improved significantly due to the change of cell structure.