A Numerical Comparison between Aluminuim Alloy and Mild Steel in Order to Enhance the Energy Absorption Capacity of the Thin Walled Tubes

Abstract

the current study describes and comparison between the behavior of the thin wall rectangular tube cross- sections modeled by mild steel and aluminum alloy, subjected to dynamic compression load. We examine the reaction of the tube of various thicknesses and materials (mild steel A36 and aluminium alloy AA6060), subjected to direct and oblique loading. The study investigates the behavior of the rectangular tube, with various weights of various hollow aluminum foam. The choice of the best design of tube parameter is based on the method called multi criteria decision making (MCDM). The examined criterions are the peak force, crush force efficiency (CFE), how also the energy absorption in case of oblique and direct load. The optimal choice of the rectangular tube is the aluminium rectangular profile of 3.4 mm thickness and hollow aluminium foam type (E= 0.652Kg), under oblique load, with enhancement of the energy absorption of 11.2 %, an improvement of CFE by 42.3%, decrease of peak force by 30.7 %. In case the direct load, the enhancement of the energy absorption of 7.2 %, an improvement of CFE by 88%, decrease of peak force by 39.7 %. The aim of using thinner tube and hollow aluminium foam is to keep the final design the lowest possible weight, to improve the CFE and the energy absorber capacities in order to attain higher passenger safety.