Experimental and numerical studies of impact axial compression of thin-walled conical shells

Impact axial compression experiments on aluminium conical shells of semi-apical angles varying from 6.84° to 65.35° and the mean diameter to thickness (D/t) ratios varying from 22.32 to 79.29 were conducted on a gravity drop hammer set-up. Typical histories of their deformation, variation of shell thickness along the length, load–deformation curves, energy absorbing capacity, and mean collapse loads obtained from the experiments are presented. Influence of the semi-apical angles, D/t ratios, thickness, depth, and top and bottom diameter values of the shell on their modes of collapse and energy absorption capacities are discussed. The shells are numerically simulated and analysed in detail by using the finite element code FORGE2. The material was modelled as rigid-viscoplastic. The experimental and computed results are compared. Typical contours of equivalent strain, equivalent strain rate, different stress components and velocity distribution are presented. The impact response of the shells is compared with their static response.