Numerical analysis of energy absorption behavior of quadrangular thin-walled metal sections under the applied lateral loading by a cylindrical rigid punch

In this article, indentation process of thin-walled metal sections with quadrangular cross-section was studied under the applied lateral compressive loading by a rigid cylindrical punch through numerical simulations by the ABAQUS. Based on numerical simulations and by changing one of the parameters and fixing the other parameters, effects of that parameter was investigated on total and specific absorbed energy by the structure. In other words, influences of various geometrical dimensions such as height, width and wall thickness of cross-section, punch diameter, loading rate and also, effects of material were investigated. In each part, physical justifications of the obtained results were presented, based on theoretical and engineering concepts. Comparison of the results showed that in the specimens with the same cross-sectional perimeter, but, with different aspect ratios, the highest ratio of height/width of the cross-section, results in the best energy absorber, in the studied domain. Furthermore, by changing the height and fixing the width of cross-section and the other parameters, when height of the cross-section was selected equal to punch diameter, the maximum value of total and specific absorbed energy was achieved. But, when cross-section width changed and height and the other characteristics remained constant, by reducing the width, energy absorption performance of the structure improved. In addition, numerical simulations showed that total and specific absorbed energy of quadrangular sections are dependent on the second and first power of wall thickness of the cross-section, respectively. Also, in same specimens, by increasing punch diameter, both TAE and SAE increased.