Energy performance of metallic tubular systems under reverse complex loading paths

Abstract

Abstract This experimental study examines the effect of a novel severe multiaxial loading path on the plastic buckling of copper (CuTWC) and aluminum (AlTWC) thin-walled tubular structures to improve their energy-dissipating capacity. The study presents a new variant of the patented compression-torsion rig (ACTP) in the alternating mode for the torsion component, called ACTP-S. This variant increases the loading complexity, resulting in enhanced energy absorption. The component’s loading complexities range from moderate mode to severe biaxial mode, tested under quasi-static (5 mm/min) and dynamic (9 m/s) regimes, thanks to its S-shaped helices. After analyzing the results, it is clear that the strength of the tested structures increased with greater load complexity for both regimes. Additionally, each system exhibited a higher energy absorption capacity. For example, the CuTWC and AlTWC experienced a 47 and 91% increase, respectively, under the most severe biaxial mode compared to the reference tube, which was tested under uniaxial loading. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the new ACTP-S device, considering the specific sensitivity of each material to the loading path complexity.