Experimental, numerical and theoretical analysis of energy absorption process by aluminum profile with H-shaped thin-walled cross section

This article investigates energy absorption capacity and plastic deformation trend of lateral flattening of an aluminum profile with H-shaped cross section under the quasi-static lateral loading by experimental, numerical and theoretical methods. Samples were prepared with different lengths and three different filling conditions including empty, core-filled and perfectly-filled by polyurethane foam. In addition, samples with the same geometry and filling conditions were laterally compressed with loading angles of 0 and 90 degree. Effect of some parameters such as length, three different filling conditions and loading angle were experimentally investigated on lateral force and specific absorbed energy (SAE). The results show that SAE is independent of samples length. At the loading angle of 90 degree, presence of the filler causes increment of SAE by the structure. Using the perfectly-filled profile under the loading angle of 90 degree is the most optimum condition. Based on two different energy absorption mechanisms, a theoretical equation was derived to estimate total absorbed energy (TAE) by empty sample with loading angle of zero; and predicted results were compared with the experimental samples. Due to present limitations in preparing the samples with different geometrical dimensions, nonlinear ABAQUS software was employed. Some samples with different wall thicknesses were modeled and influence of thickness was investigated on TAE. TAE is directly correlated to the second power of wall thickness; and this relationship can be clearly understood from the theoretical equation and numerical results. High correlation of experimental, numerical and theoretical results indicates precision and accuracy of the performed research.