Title: Energy absorption of metallic structures involving ductile tearing

Authors: G. Lu, T.X. Yu, X. Huang

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC. 3122, Australia. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong. ' Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC. 3122, Australia

Abstract: When a structure such as a vehicle body is subjected to collision, the kinetic energy is dissipated largely by plastic deformation. This may be accompanied with ductile tearing as a result of excessive plastic straining. This paper summarises the studies of such problems. Presented are the measurement of ductile tearing energy for in-plane (mode I) and out-of-plane (mode III) tearing, splitting of metal tubes of both square and circular sections, and cutting of a metal plate by a wedge. They represent possible approaches to this class of problems and show some interesting features embedded.

Keywords: energy absorption; tearing energy; tube splitting; plate cutting; metallic structures; vehicle body; ductile tearing; plastic straining; plastic deformation; vehicle collision; strain rate; kinetic energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2005.006658

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2005 Vol.37 No.2/3, pp.224 - 251

Published online: 31 Mar 2005 *

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