Effect of an ultralight metal filler on the bending collapse behavior of thin-walled prismatic columns

The effect of low-density metal filler, such as aluminum foam or honeycomb, is studied on the bending collapse resistance of thin-walled prismatic columns, A combination of analytical and numerical results is used to predict the initial and post collapse response of empty and filled columns. Closed-formed solutions for the bending-rotation characteristics are constructed in terms of the geometrical parameters and the filler strength. The low-density metal core retards sectional collapse of the thin-wall column, and increases bending resistance for the same rotation angle. Numerical simulations show that, in terms of achieving the highest energy absorption to weight ratio, columns with aluminum honeycomb or foam core are preferable to thickening the column wall. Moreover, the presence of adhesive improved the specific energy absorption significantly. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.