Axial crushing behavior of circular aluminum tubes

The axial crushing behavior and energy absorption ability of metallic tubes are areas in which a large number of academic studies have been undertaken. In this study, the basic steps in the progressive folding behavior of circular-sectioned aluminum tubes under axial loading, changes in tube geometry after deformation and the ability to absorb energy were investigated both experimentally and by the finite element method. The deformation behavior of an aluminum tube wall, derived from finite element analysis was validated by experimental results with a degree of accuracy reaching 99 %. In addition, absorbed energy values approached the experimental results by approximately 93 %. As a result, the folding behavior of aluminum tubes under axial loading was successfully investigated using the finite element method. Thus, some difficulties and costs in experimental studies could be overcome.