Stabilized Aluminum Foam (SAF) is a material produced by introducing gas bubbles into molten aluminum. In this paper the benefit of using SAF in automotive applications has been investigated. Two examples will be used to illustrate the potential use of SAF in energy absorption and structural reinforcement applications. The first is use of SAF in a crashbox to absorb energy in a 15 km/hr collision and prevent damage to the rails as part of a front-end energy management system. The findings were that by filling a hollow section the structure is stabilized, more folds are formed along the length of the structure and the plastic buckling load is increased by a factor of two. The second is as a filler in a hollow structure subject to bending loads, which potentially could find application in rails and pillars. Empty and foam-filled steel sections were tested in 3 point bending. The result was that the bending strength of the section doubled, the absolute energy absorption tripied and the energy absorbed per unit mass doubled. Numerical modeling using LS DYNA gave very good agreement with experimental results.


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    Title :

    Uses for stabilized aluminum foam in crashworthiness and strengthening applications


    Additional title:

    Einsatz von stabilisiertem Aluminiumschaum für die Verbesserung des Kollisionwiderstandes und in Festigkeitserhöhungsanwendungen


    Contributors:
    Harte, A.M. (author) / Altenhoff, W. (author)


    Publication date :

    2003


    Size :

    10 Seiten, 19 Bilder, 13 Quellen




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




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