Experimental study on a plastic deformation energy absorber filled with aluminum foam in a thin-walled metal tube

Energy absorption characteristic of a plastic deformation energy absorber filled with aluminum foam in a thin-wall metal tube under quasi-static state was studied by test method. First, the axial compression tests of aluminum foam, a plastic deformation shock absorber with a thin-walled metal tube and a plastic deformation shock absorber with aluminum foam filled in a thin-wall metal tube were carried out. Based upon the test results, the energy absorption characteristic of the plastic deformation energy absorber with aluminum foam filled in a thin-wall metal tube was analyzed, and compared with those of aluminum foam and the energy absorber with a thin-wall metal tube's plastic deformation. It showed that, filling aluminum foam could greatly increase the energy adsorption abilities of the thin-wall metal tube. Compared with the non-filled structures, aluminum foam-filled structures need less mass and volume to absorb the specified energy.