Predicting energy absorption in a foam-filled thin-walled aluminum tube based on experimentally determined strengthening coefficient

The energy absorption in a foam-filled thin-walled circular Al tube was investigated based on the experimentally determined strengthening coefficient of filling using Al and polystyrene closed-cell foams with three different densities. Foam filling was found to change the deformation mode of tube from diamond (empty tube) into concertina, regardless the foam type and density used. Although foam filling resulted in higher energy absorption than the sum of the energy absorptions of the tube alone and foam alone, it was not effective in increasing the specific energy than simply thickening the tube wall. It was shown that for efficient foam filling an appropriate foam-tube combination must be selected by taking into account the magnitude of strengthening coefficient of foam filling and the foam filler plateau load.