Dynamic bending response of double cylindrical tubes filled with aluminum foam

The dynamic three-point bending behavior of double cylindrical tubes filled with closed-cell aluminum foam core was studied experimentally and numerically. It is found that the deformation mode of this new structure under impact loading is different to that under quasi-static loading. The load carrying capacity of the structure subjected to impact remains at the level of that in the quasi-static situation. Compared with traditional foam-filled single tubes, the specific energy absorption efficiency of this new structure is much higher, and that of both foam-filled structures in the dynamic situation are higher than that in static situation. A preliminary experimental study on the effect of profiles and span of the structure were performed, and the result shows that these parameters affect the structure together. Numerical simulation of the bending behavior was also executed with the explicit finite element method. The mechanism of the dynamic response is revealed by comparison of the maximum strain history in the simulation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.