Dynamic axial crushing tests have been carried out on thin-walled top-hat and double-hat spot-welded mild steel sections which are used for structural crashworthy purposes in the automobile industry. Several post-test collapse modes were identified for the structures and the associated energy absorbing characteristics have been examined and compared with previous tests. A new empirical equation is suggested which relates the dynamic structural effectiveness to the structural density of top-hat and double-hat sections.
The M1 Kegworth air accident, engineering and medical aspects of survivability. Papers presented at a Seminar organized by the Engineering in Medicine Group, 8 January 1991 (Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London).
2.
HiddenA.Investigation into the Clapham Junction Railway Accident, Department of Transport, 1989 (HMSO, London).
3.
DunnE.Vehicle safety legislation—a U.K. view. In Autotech 1991, Seminar 4, on Safety and Impact—Legislation, Liability and Lessons, 1991, paper C427/4/095 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
4.
HobbsC. A.LangdonM. G.Car frontal impacts and the need to improve car structural integrity. In Autotech 1991, Seminar 4, on Safety and Impact—Legislation, Liability and Lessons, 1991, paper C427/4/094 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
5.
PugsleyA. G.MacaulayM. A.The large scale crumpling of thin cylindrical columns. Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math., 1960, XIII(1), 1–9.
6.
PugsleyA. G.The crumpling of tubular structures under impact conditions. In Proceedings of Symposium on The Use of Aluminium in Railway Rolling Stock, Institute of Locomotive Engineers, 1960, pp. 33–41 (The Aluminium Development Association, London).
7.
PugsleyA. G.On the crumpling of thin walled structures. Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math., 1979, 32(1), 1–7.
8.
AlexanderJ. M.An approximate analysis of the collapse of thin cylindrical shells under axial loading. Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math., 1960, XIII(1), 10–15.
9.
PostlethwaiteH. E.MillsB.Use of collapsible structural elements as impact isolators, with special reference to automotive applications. J. Strain Analysis, 1970, 5(1), 58–73.
10.
ReidS. R.ReddyT. Y.Axially loaded metal tubes as impact energy absorbers. In Proceedings of IUTAM Symposium on Inelastic Behaviour of Plates and Shells (Eds BevilacquaL.FeijooR.ValidR.), 1986, pp. 569–595 (Springer-Verlag, Berlin).
ReidS. R.ReddyT. Y.GrayM.Static and dynamic axial crushing of foam filled sheet metal tubes. Int. J. Mech. Sci., 1986, 28(5), 295–322.
13.
ReddyT. Y.WallR. J.Axial compression of foam filled thin walled circular tubes. Int. J. Impact Engng, 1988, 7(2), 151–166.
14.
BirchR. S.JonesN.Dynamic and static axial crushing of axially stiffened square tubes. Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs, Part C, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 1990, 204(C5), 293–310.
15.
BirchR.S.JonesN.Dynamic and static axial crushing of axially stiffened cylindrical shells. Thin Walled Structs, 1990, 9, 29–60.
16.
MacaulayM. A.RedwoodR. G.Small scale model railway coaches under impact. The Engineer, 25 December 1964, pp. 1041–1046.
17.
LoweW. T.Al-HassaniS. T. S.JohnsonW.Impact behaviour of small scale model motor coaches. Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs, Auto Division, 1972, 186, 409–419.
18.
AbramowiczW.JonesN.Dynamic progressive buckling of circular and square tubes. Int. J. Impact Engng, 1986, 4(4), 243–270.
19.
OhkuboY.AkamatsuT.ShirasawaK.Mean crushing strength of closed-hat section members. SAE paper 740040, 1974.
20.
AyaN.TakahashiK.Energy absorption characteristics of vehicle body structure. Japan Soc. Auto. Engr, Part 1, 1976, Bull. 7, pp. 65–74.
21.
TaniM.FunahashiA.Energy absorption by the plastic deformation of body structural members. Presented at the SAE Annual Meeting, Detroit, Illinois, February 1978, paper 780368.
22.
WhiteM. D.JonesN.AbramowiczW. A.A theoretical analysis for the quasi static axial crushing of top-hat and double-hat thin-walled sections. Int. J. Mech. Sci., 1999, 41, 209–233.
23.
WhiteM. D.JonesN.A theoretical analysis of the dynamic axial crushing of top-hat and double-hat thin-walled sections. Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs, Part D, Journal of Automobile Engineering, 1999, 213(D4) (in press).
24.
FayP. A.SuthurstG. D.Redesign of adhesively bonded box beam sections for improved impact performance. Int. J. Adhesion and Adhesives, July 1990, 10(3), 128–138.
25.
RivettR. M.RichesS. T.Drop weight impact testing of spot welded, weld bonded and adhesively bonded box beam sections. Welding Institute Report 9431. 01/85/478.2, January 1986.
26.
OmarT. A.KanC. D.BedewiN. E.Crush behaviour of spot welded hat section components with material comparison. In Crashworthiness and Occupant Protection in Transportation Systems, 1996, AMD VOl. 128, pp. 65–78 (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York).
27.
BelingardiG.ChiaraA.VadoriR.Experimental verification of the axial crushing behaviour of thin walled columns with different sections. In Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Innovation and Reliability in Automotive Design and Testing, Vol. 1, April 1992, pp. 59–68.
28.
WhiteM. D.JonesN.Experimental quasi-static axial crushing of top-hat and double-hat thin-walled sections. Int. J. Mech. Sci., 1999, 41, 179–208.
29.
JonesN.Strain rate sensitive behaviour of materials. In Structural Impact, 1989, Ch. 8, pp. 333–384 (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge) (also paperback edition, 1997).
30.
BirchR. S.JonesN.Measurement of impact loads using a laser Doppler velocimeter. Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs, Part C, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 1990, 204(C1), 1–8.
31.
AbramowiczW.JonesN.Transition from initial global bending to progressive buckling of tubes loaded statically and dynamically. Int. J. Impact Engng, 1997, 19(5-6), 415–437.
32.
WierzbickiT.BhatS.A note on shear effects in progressive crushing of prismatic tubes. SAE Technical Series, paper 860821, 1986.
