Energy absorption mechanisms in thin-walled tubes made of traditional materials: 304 stainless steel and 5005-H32 aluminum alloys

Two circular tubes made of 304 stainless steel and 5005-H32 aluminum alloys were subjected to axial loads at a constant strain rate. A compression test machine was utilized to generate one fold in each sample under quasi-static conditions. The crush mechanisms and load-deflection curves of these two types of thin-walled structures were recorded and illustrated. The energy absorption capacity, modes of deformation, average loads and maximum buckling loads were presented for the tested samples. A comparison of experimental results between these two samples was performed in order to check the amount of energy absorbed by plastic deformation of materials. The stainless steel samples showed a higher energy absorption capacity than aluminum samples by approximately 28%. Additionally, the failure mode of steel samples was concertina, while aluminum samples was diamond mode.