A numerical study on the impact response and energy absorption of tapered thin-walled tubes

Tapered tubes have been considered desirable impact energy absorbers due to their relatively stable mean load–deflection response under dynamic loading. Relatively few studies have been reported on the energy absorption performance of tapered tubes compared with straight tubes. This paper compares the energy absorption response of straight and tapered thin-walled rectangular tubes under both quasi-static and dynamic axial impact loading, for variations in wall thickness, taper angle, impact mass and impact velocity. It is found that the dynamic response of tapered tubes is more sensitive to impact velocity and wall thickness than taper angle for lower impact velocities. Inertia effects influenced the dynamic response for both straight and tapered tubes, yet were less significant for the latter. Overall, the results indicate that the energy absorption response of tapered tubes can be controlled via their wall thickness and taper angle, and this highlights their potential for use as energy absorbers. Analysis has been undertaken using a finite element model, validated using existing theory.