AN EVALUATION OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF IMPERFECT ALUMINIUM TUBES

摘要

In this research the effect of geometric changes introduced on Al 6063-T6 circular tubes in the form of horizontal and spiral grooves, (Fig.2 and Fig.3) is assessed. The horizontal and spiral grooves were cut into the tube to a depth of half the wall thickness of the tubes, while the pitch was varied for both the horizontal and spiral grooves, and the cut width was kept constant. These tubes were axially compressed, and load vs. displacement and Energy vs. displacement graphs were generated from the captured experimental data for the tubes. A Finite Element Method model is presented for each of the experimentally tested tubes. 2D models for the uncut and horizontally grooved tubes and a 3D model for the spiral cut tube were generated and analyzed. Reaction force vs. displacement and energy vs. displacement graphs are presented for the different analyses. A comparison is made between the numerically and experimentally determined gradients of the energy vs. displacement graphs for each of the tubes analyzed. This forms the basis for an energy absorber design with application in the transport industry currently under consideration.