Quasi-static axial compression of thin-walled circular aluminium tubes

This paper presents further experimental investigations into axial compression of thin-walled circular tubes, a classical problem studied for several decades. A total of 70 quasi-static tests were conducted on circular 6060 aluminium tubes in the T5, as-received condition. The range of D/t considered was expanded over previous studies to D/t=10-450. Collapse modes were observed for L/D less than or equal to 10 and a mode classification chart developed. The average crush force, F-AV, was non-dimensionalised and an empirical formula established as F-AV/M-P = 72.3(D/t)(0.32). It was found that test results for both axi-symmetric and non-symmetric modes lie on a single curve. Comprehensive comparisons have been made between existing theories and our test results for F-AV. This has revealed some shortcomings, suggesting that further theoretical work may be required. It was found that the ratio of F-MAX/F-AV increased substantially with an increase in the D/t ratio. The effect of filling aluminium tubes with different density polyurethane foam was also briefly examined. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.