Grooves effect on crashworthiness characteristics of thin-walled tubes under axial compression

Crashworthiness characteristics of thin-walled steel tubes containing annular grooves are experimentally studied. The grooves are introduced in the tube to force the plastic deformation to occur at predetermined intervals along the tube. The aims are improving the uniformity of the load–displacement behaviour and predicting energy absorption capacity of the tubes. Quasi-static axial crushing tests are performed with different groove distances. Load–displacement curves are described and energy absorption and mean post-buckling load are determined. The results show that the load–displacement curve and energy absorbed by the axial crushing of tubes could be controlled by the introduction of grooves with different distances. The proposed method could be a good candidate as a controllable energy absorption element.