Abstract
Energy absorption mechanisms have been investigated intensively for the past decades by
various authors and institutions, and numerous articles and other literature sources are available
in print, as well as on the Internet. Energy absorbers and crashworthiness structures are two
main research components in the energy absorption field under investigation today.
In this research geometric changes are introduced on Al 6063-T6 circular tubes in the form of
horizontal and spiral grooves to asses their influence on energy absorption characteristics. The
horizontal and spiral grooves were cut into the tube to a cut depth of half the wall thickness of
the tubes. The pitch was varied for both the horizontal and spiral grooves, while the cut width
was kept constant. A specially designed static impact sleeve was used to compress the test
specimens axially in an Instron 250 kN universal hydraulic testing system. Load vs. displacement
graphs were generated from the captured experimental data for the uncut, horizontal and spiral
grooved tubes. Energy vs. displacement graphs were created from the experimental data. The
final deformed tubes were visually examined to determine the effect the geometric change had
on the circular tube form, as well as the deformation pattern of the crushed tube.
A Finite Element Method model is presented for each of the experimentally investigated tube
impact models. A two dimensional (2D) model for the uncut as well as horizontally grooved
tube is generated and analysed using a quasi static loading approach. Non-linear material
properties are assigned to the model, and the Riks algorithm is used to model the non-linear post
buckling behaviour of the various tubes. The results from the FEM analysis are used to generate
load vs. displacement and energy vs. displacement graphs that are compared with the
experimental data.
Three dimensional (3D) FEM models of the normal, spiral and horizontal cut tubes were also
generated in a CAD environment. A dynamic explicit non-linear analysis was done for each of
the models to determine the reaction force and energy output values of each of the models. All
analyses extend into the plastic material domain. Reaction force vs. displacement and energy vs.
displacement graphs are generated from these analyses.
A comparison is made between the numerically and experimentally determined gradients of the
energy vs. displacement graphs of each of the tubes investigated. This forms the basis for an
energy absorber design with application in the transport industry.
Unique geometric imperfections were investigated experimentally and numerically for aluminium
tubes. A lower buckling load than that for the normal tubes was achieved with the introduction
of these geometric imperfections. New deformation patterns on tubes with imperfections not
previously observed were described and analysed extensively. The load vs displacement graphs
showed a constant increase in the load for the spiral grooved tubes. From the comparison
between the numerically and experimentally investigated geometric imperfections a design guide
line was esthablished and used in the conceptual design of an energy absorber for the
automotive industry.
Prof. L. Pretorius
Prof. R.F. Laubscher