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Crashworthiness analysis of empty and foam-filled circular tubes with functionally graded thickness

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Abstract

Thin-wall structures, particularly thin-walled tubes, play a critical role in load-bearing structures. Enhancing their ability to withstand crushing loads can significantly improve the overall damping efficiency of the system. Functionally graded thickness (FGT) is a promising approach for enhancing the load-bearing properties of thin-walled tubes by enabling control over material usage and localized deformation patterns within the structure. In this study, we proposed a novel theoretical model that analyzes the crushing behavior of hollow and foam-filled FGT thin-walled circular tubes by considering four primary failure mechanisms that contribute to energy dissipation: (1) bending of plastic hinges, (2) membrane stretching, (3) axial foam crushing, and (4) the interaction between foam and the tube's wall. We validated our model against experimental results from previous researchers and observed a good agreement. Additionally, we conduct a comprehensive study to examine the effects of various geometrical parameters, such as power-law functions and normalized wall thickness ratio, on the crushing behavior of FGT structures. Our results demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of our theoretical model and highlight the potential of FGT structures to enhance the performance of thin-walled tubes in a range of load-bearing applications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal Highway, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Sajad Barzigar, Hamed Ahmadi & Gholamhossein Liaghat

  2. School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics, Faculty of Technology, Design, and Environment, Oxford Brookes University, Wheatley Campus, Oxford, UK

    Gholamhossein Liaghat

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    Morteza Seidi

  4. Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Delft, The Netherlands

    Mohammad J. Mirzaali

Authors
  1. Seyed Sajad Barzigar
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  2. Hamed Ahmadi
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Correspondence to Hamed Ahmadi.

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Barzigar, S.S., Ahmadi, H., Liaghat, G. et al. Crashworthiness analysis of empty and foam-filled circular tubes with functionally graded thickness. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 46, 205 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-024-04781-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-024-04781-6

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