Experimental study and investigation of energy absorption and crashworthiness in thin-walled square tubes with elliptical surface defects

Abstract Today, the impact phenomenon is of particular importance. The Axial drop impact test can be used in various industries such as aviation, shipbuilding, automobile, railway, and elevators. In this research, the behavior of thin-walled energy absorbers with a square cross-section and the creation of elliptical defects on the side surfaces have been subjected to the impact test of a weight falling at a low speed. The influence of small and large oval diameters on collapse behavior and energy absorption has been investigated. It is worth mentioning that all samples are made of 1100 series aluminum. The results showed that as the large side of the rhombus increases, the initial maximum force decreases. On the other hand, energy absorption increases, which is desirable as an energy absorber, and up to 18% improvement in the absorber’s performance is created. Also, from the results of the experimental tests, it was found that with the increase of the small side of the oval from 3 to 5 mm, the initial maximum force decreases by 7%.