An influence of eccentricity of load on progressive crushing behaviour of isotropic square-tube columns with dimples

The object of the research was a thin-walled energy absorber made of aluminium in the form of a column having square-cross section and a series of dimples in the corners. An influence of the eccentric load on sub-critical form of the equilibrium path was examined. This was an attempt to assess the structure’s susceptibility to deviations of the load axis centricity. Advantages of the new solution were presented in comparison with a column having smooth walls.[b]Keywords[/b]: thin-walled members, energy absorber, crushing behaviour, FEM