ENERGY ABSORPTION OF HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL TUBES UNDER IMPACT CRUSH CONDITIONS

The energy absorption of automotive sheet steels was determined at impact speeds to 40 mph by crushing tubular structures at 70 and -40 F. The test program was designed to provide an intermediate step between tensile and vehicle tests aimed at understanding material behavior at high impact speeds. Energy absoprtion increased with impact velocity, strength, thickness, and lower temperature. Energy absorbed was also influenced by tube geometry. These results show that the new HSLA steels provide excellent energy absoprtion and that designers can use these steels at relatively light gages to reduce vehicle weight without sacrificing crashworthiness, even at low temperature. /GMRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Vankuren, R C
  • Scott, J E
• Publication Date: 1977-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 9 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash tests; Crashworthiness; Energy absorption; High speed ground transportation; High speed vehicles; High strength steel; Sheet metal; Speed; Strength of materials; Temperature; Tension tests; Thickness; Tubing; Weight
• Old TRIS Terms: Grade profile; Tensile test
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Railroads; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158411
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 770213
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 1977 12:00AM