THE BEER CAN AS A SHOCK ABSORBER

ONE FEATURE IN AN IDEALIZED URBAN CAR OF 1980, ENTERED IN A RECENT URBAN VEHICLE DESIGN COMPETITION, WAS ITS "BEER CAN" BUMPERS. STATIC AND DYNAMIC TESTING PERFORMED ON STEEL BEER AND SODA CANS HAS INDICATED THAT THE CANS, WHEN LOADED ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS, POSSESS MECHANICAL PROPERTIES IDEAL FOR SHOCK ABSORPTION. THE STATIC AND DYNAMIC MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF THE 12-OZ. STEEL CANS IS PRESENTED. IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE ENERGY ABSORPTION CAPABILITY OF THE CANS IS NOT STRONGLY DEPENDENT UPON IMPACT VELOCITY, AND THAT PENUMATIC FORCES CAUSED BY AIR ENTRAPPED IN THE CANS CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE TOTAL FORCE IN THE CAN DURING IMPACT. /DOT/

• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Mechanical Engineers

  Two Park Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10016-5990
• Authors:
  • Wirsching, P H
  • Slater, R C
• Publication Date: 1973-10

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 224-6
• Serial:
  • ASME Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology
  • Volume: 95
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bumpers; Containers; Shock absorbers; Vehicle components
• Old TRIS Terms: Cans
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00224508
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 20 2003 12:00AM