The Crushing Of Cellular Filled Thin Tubes

Md. Radzai, Said and Amzatul Akmam, Mokhtar (2005) The Crushing Of Cellular Filled Thin Tubes. Project Report. UTeM, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

The energy absorption capacity of a series of axially crushed tubes fil1ed with oil palm fiber is compared with those similar tubes but empty to determine the viability of considering the use of such composites or bimaterials in transportation system especially in automotive application. To that end, mild steel tubular specimens with square and rectangular cross-sectional geometries; filled with Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) fibers and with Oil Palm Frond (OPF) fibers; and some of them were added with water or urea formaldehyde and crushed quasi-statically to examine the energy absorption characteristics. The fiber initial densities in the tubes, in the form of dry were stated to start from 150 kgm-3 , 200 kgrn-3 , 250 kgm-3 and 300 kgm-3 . From initial experimental works, the tubes that filled with dry fiber show the best energy absorption in term of specific energy. For final experimental works, nine specimens were cut from each two 6 m mild steel tubes for a total of eighteen specimens. All of these specimens were crushed quasi-statically in a load frame (Instron 8858 Universal Testing Machine). In order to ensure that the entire specimens were able to be compared with, a number of measurements were taken. These measurements included length, wall thickness, cross-sectional dimensions, volume and mass. Two important energy absorption measures were examined: the specific energy absorption (SEA) and the ratio of peak load to the average load. The geometry and fibers had a significant effect on the energy absorption but changing the loading rate did not. By considering all parameters involved, it was also found that the rectangular mild steel tubes filled with 300 kgrn-3 Oil Palm Frond fiber was effective at absorbing energy than others those of them but still may be acceptable.

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