Crashworthiness of conical shells is known to depend on various factors. This study sets out to determine the extent to which the cross-sectional diameter contributes to their energy-absorbing properties. The object of the study was thin-walled aluminium tubes varying in upper diameter and wall thickness. The components were subjected to dynamic axial crushing kinetic energy equal to 1700 J. The numerical analysis was performed using Abaqus 6.14 software. The specific aim of the study was to determine the extent to which variable wall thickness affects the energy absorption capacity of the components under study. From the simulations, we have managed to establish a relationship between total energy absorption capacity and wall thickness. The results from the conducted analyses and the purpose-specific neural networks could provide the base for the future methodology for forecasting and optimisation of energy-absorbing systems.

The paper presents the results of numerical tests of impact and energy absorption capacity of thin-walled columns, subjected to axial impact loading, made of aluminum alloy, and having a square cross-section and spherical indentations on their lateral surfaces. The numerical models were validated using an experiment that was conducted on the Instron CEAST 9350 High Energy System drop hammer. Material properties of the applied aluminum alloy were determined on the basis of a static tension test. The crushing behavior of the columns and some crashworthiness indicators were investigated. On the basis of the results of the conducted analyses, conclusions were drawn about the most beneficial design/constructional variants in terms of achieved crashworthiness parameters.

The demand for lightweight, strong structural profiles is currently high in the transport industry, mechanical engineering, and construction. Therefore, it is important to evaluate their properties, especially mechanical properties. The main objective of this paper is to determine energy absorption coefficients and evaluate the crush resistance of thin-walled aluminum profiles using numerical simulation and empirical verification. This paper presents the compression results of testing of thin-walled aluminum profiles filled with a porous material (cast aluminum foam). The numerical analysis was conducted using the software Abaqus/CAE. Aluminum material data were obtained from a static tensile test performed on a Shimadzu machine. The experiment was performed on an Instron CEAST 9450HES dynamic hammer. Profiles with three shapes of crush initiators filled with aluminum foam measuring 40 mm–200 mm in 20 mm increments were numerically tested. A sample with a concave initiator filled with foams of 40 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, and 120 mm in length was used to verify the numerical analyses. Energy absorption coefficients were determined from the analyses. The results of both analyses were tabulated to show the percentage differences. The study showed an increase in the Crush Load Efficiency (CLE) index by up to 33% for samples with the same crush initiator. In addition, it was noted that the use of porous fill does not increase the value of initiating Peak Crushing Force (PCF), which indicates the generation of much smaller overloads dangerous for vehicle passengers.

Thin-walled structures dynamically loaded with an axial force are the subject of this study. The structures work as passive energy absorbers by progressive harmonic crushing. The absorbers were made of AA-6063-T6 aluminum alloy and subjected to both numerical and experimental tests. Experimental tests were performed on an INSTRON 9350 HES bench, while numerical analyses were performed using Abaqus software. The energy absorbers tested had crush initiators in the form of drilled holes. The variable parameters were the number of holes and their diameter. The holes were located in a line 30 mm away from the base. This study shows a significant effect of the hole diameter on the values of the stroke efficiency indicator and mean crushing force.

The purpose of this research was the analysis of the stability of compressed thin-walled composite columns with closed rectangular cross-sections, subjected to axial load. The test specimens (made of carbon–epoxy composite) were characterized by different lay-ups of the composite material. Experimental tests were carried out using a universal testing machine and other interdisciplinary testing techniques, such as an optical strain measurement system. Simultaneously with the experimental studies, numerical simulations were carried out using the finite element method. In the case of FEA simulations, original numerical models were derived. In the case of both experimental research and FEM simulations, an in-depth investigation of buckling states was carried out. The measurable effect of the research was to determine both the influence of the cross-sectional shape and the lay-up of the composite layers on the stability of the structure. The novelty of the present paper is the use of interdisciplinary research techniques in order to determine the critical state of compressed thin-walled composite structures with closed sections. An additional novelty is the object of study itself—that is, thin-walled composite columns with closed sections.