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Dynamic compression behavior of various kinds of polygonal tubular structures with ribs are investigated. Square hollow structures and that with rib reinforcement of aluminum extrusions are in dynamic axial compression, using a drop hammer. Numerical simulation was also conducted for the wider variety of cross-sectional shapes and reinforcements. The effect of the axial length, cross-sectional shape and reinforcing rib arrangement on the deformation behavior were investigated. Comparable compressive force was obtained when the cross-sectional area of the structure is similar, even if the number of edges in cross-section increases from four (square) to eight. Rib reinforcement is very effective for the improvement of the crush or energy absorbing performance. Deformation behavior was successfully predicted by the numerical simulation. Numerical simulation of the compression of the various polygonal tubular structures with radial ribs was also carried out. The number of radial ribs in cross-section of the polygonal hollow structure has a positive relationship to the deformation constraint at corners and the torsional rigidity, consequently, the crush resistance increased.

Aluminum tubes are efficient energy absorbing components and are widely used in the automobile industry. In the previous report, the authors investigated the influence of cross-sectional shape on axially compressed aluminum tube by numerical analysis. However, there are only a few reports on length of aluminum tube. This paper deals with the influence of axial length and reinforcing rib on dynamic axially compressed aluminum polygonal tube in order to obtain the basic data of buckling and impact resistance. A numerical analysis of the dynamic deformation process of the polygonal tube was made with a finite element method. The result shows that even if the axial length was changed, there was no difference in the trend of the load-displacement curve in each cross-sectional shape. However, the maximum load part on load-displacement curve was changed. The buckling was generated partially and the deformation was larger at the corners in each axial length and cross-sectional shape.