In this paper, the energy absorption response of single and multi-cell profiles with different cross sections under bending load is presented. Emphasis was given to the modeling of damage initiation criteria and damage evolution. For this purpose, several discrete models of thin-walled structures were developed using Abaqus/Explicit. To obtain reliable results, a numerical study of a double-chambered profile under quasi-static three-point bending was conducted and validated experimentally. The studied structures included profiles with triangular, square, hexagonal, and circular cross-sectional shapes. The beams were fabricated with aluminum alloy EN AW-7108 T6 and modeled with ductile, shear, and Müschenborn-Sonne forming limit diagram damage initiation criteria. From the numerical results, both single and multi-cell profiles show an improvement in crashworthiness performance as their cross sections tend to approach a circle. In this way, an improvement of up to 80.95% in the crush force efficiency (CFE) parameter was obtained. Similarly, the introduction of ribs allowed for an increase in the energy absorption performance of the profiles relative to the single structure (non-ribbed). In this sense, an increase in specific energy absorption (SEA) and CFE values of up to 40% and 69% was calculated. Relative to single profiles, a maximum resistance to bending and an increase in energy absorption are observed when the circular cross section is reinforced in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Finally, with the improvements found, the design of an impact door beam used in the automobile industry is presented and discussed.
Bending resistance is one of the most important requirements in automobile structural members when lateral crashes occur. For this purpose, the current paper studies the bending and crashworthiness capacity of square profiles with topological modifications. Several finite element simulations were carried out using Abaqus/Explicit software. The topological modifications consisted in combining a square cross-section with polygonal and circular simple cross-sections. In all cases, the profiles evaluated were simulated with mechanical properties for aluminium alloy 6063-T5 with the same mass. The feasibility of our numerical study was validated by a three-point bending tests of a square tube using a Shimadzu universal test machine. Additional to the assessment of complex cross-sections, numerical results for simple cross-sections are presented. A better crashworthiness performance is obtained when the square section of a simple profile is reinforced with topological modifications. According to the simulation results, a complex cross-section can improve the crushing force efficiency up to 77.9% with respect to a single square profile. Regarding cross-sections with topological modifications, the best bending resistance and energy absorption capacity is obtained when the square section is combined with a square profile. This means an increase of 9.2 % of energy absorption (Ea) and 5.67% of CFE respect to the cross-section formed by square and triangular shapes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.