Title: Crush performance of foam filled tubular structures made of aluminium alloys at different loading conditions

Authors: Isabel Duarte; Matej Vesenjak; Lovre Krstulović-Opara

Addresses: TEMA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ul. 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia ' Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, R. Boškovića 32, HR-21000 Split, Croatia

Abstract: The aim of this research is to develop and characterise square and cylindrical foam filled tubular structures made of aluminium alloys. The thin-walled tubular structures were filled with a closed-cell foam during its in-situ foam formation using the powder metallurgy method. The deformation modes and compressive behaviour were studied using uniaxial compressive tests together with infrared thermography. The results demonstrate that the in-situ foam filled tubular structures have strong bonding and a high ductility that contributes to a progressive and stable axisymmetric deformation under compressive loads without the formation of cracks.

Keywords: lightweight structures; aluminium foams; foam filled tubular structures; deformation modes; uniaxial compression behaviour.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAUTOC.2017.091397

International Journal of Automotive Composites, 2017 Vol.3 No.2/3/4, pp.127 - 140

Received: 16 Jan 2017
Accepted: 18 May 2017
Published online: 30 Apr 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article