Quasi-static axial compression of concentric expanded metal tubes

• Concentric expanded metal tubes under quasi-static axial compression are investigated.
• Flattened expanded metal meshes are used in the investigation.
• Energy absorption characteristics are determined experimentally.
• Interaction between the buckled shapes of the outer and inner tube increases the energy absorption capacity of the concentric tubes.
• Concentric tubes with different orientations are an effective mean to enhance energy absorption capacity.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the failure mechanism and energy absorption capacity of expanded metal tubes strongly depends on the orientation of the cells. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the collapse of concentric expanded metal tubes subjected to quasi-static axial compression. Square tubes with two different cell orientations are tested to failure, and the energy absorption characteristics are calculated. The results show that the combination of cell geometries lead to a complex buckling mode interaction, which enhances the energy absorption capacity of expanded metal tubes.