Bending Response of Sandwiched Double Tube Structures with Aluminum Foam Core

Three point bending response of sandwiched double cylindrical tube structures with aluminum foam core was studied numerically using the explicit finite element method. The numerical results are in good agreement with the corresponding experimental results and display the advantage of this new structure in load carrying capacity and energy absorption efficiency over the traditional foam-filled single tube structure. The deformation and failure mechanism is revealed by comparisons of the strain and stress distributions and the history of the maximum strain. The influence of the inner tube diameter for the structure was explored. It is found that increasing the inner tube diameter enhances the maximum deflection at failure of the foam-filled double tube within the diameter range considered. With a proper inner tube diameter, a steady load carrying capacity of the foam-filled double tube structure can be achieved, which shows an excellent crashworthiness with high energy absorption efficiency.