Numerical prediction on the crashworthiness of circular and square thin-walled tubes with polymeric auxetic foam core

Abstract

This present research numerically investigates the energy absorption capability of auxetic foam-filled tubes when loaded statically. Accordingly, numerical simulations were performed to quantify the influence of tubes’ parameters such as wall thickness, diameter and width on the energy absorption responses and deformation modes of auxetic foam-filled circular and square tubes using validated FE models. The results reveal that the progressive collapse and deformation mode of auxetic foam-filled circular tube are pronouncedly affected by varying the tube width, so that the number of lobes created decreases as the tube width increases. Moreover, it was found that the absorbed energy by auxetic foam-filled square tube shows more dependence on the tube wall thickness variations than on the tube width. Nonetheless, increasing the width of filled tube makes the structure heavier without considerably affecting the absorbed energy, which is undesirable in design of energy absorbing structures. The primary outcome of this research is a design guideline for the use of auxetic foam as a core for an energy absorber device where impact loading is expected.