Bending collapse of folded tubes. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xiong; Zhang, Hui; Ren, Weijie
• Is Part Of: International journal of mechanical sciences. Volume 117(2016)
• Page Start: 67
• Page End: 78
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Bending collapse -- Folded tube -- Experiment -- Energy absorption -- Dynamic loading; Mechanical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie mécanique -- Périodiques; Mechanical engineering; Maschinenbau; Mechanik; Zeitschrift; Periodicals; 621.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2016.07.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7403

Abstract

Abstract: Static and dynamic loading of a type of folded tubes under three-point bending are investigated in this work. The folded tubes are easily prepared, cost-effective and flexible in sectional shape, and hence quite promising to be applied widely in various engineering fields. Experimental investigations are firstly performed for folded square tubes and numerical analyses by nonlinear finite element methods are then carried out. The influences of various factors, including the load direction, velocity, fillet radius and sectional shape, on the force and deformation responses of the folded tubes are investigated. The comparison between traditional tubes and folded tubes is performed and shows that the folded tubes outperform the traditional tubes in some aspects. In addition, some suggestions for the design of folded tubes are presented. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Bending collapse of a type of folded tubes is studied. The folded tubes are easily prepared, cost-effective and flexible in sectional shape. Numerical simulation is performed and compares well with experiment. The influences of various factors on performance of folded tubes are investigated. Relative merits of folded tubes are analyzed by comparison with traditional tubes.