Search

In this study, a Finite Element (FE) model of locally strengthened high-strength stainless-steel tube subjected to lateral impact loads is established using LS-DYNA to investigate its dynamic behaviours. The accuracy of the FE results is verified by comparing with the test results. The impact force, bending moment, stress and strain responses as well as the internal energy dissipation histories of the strengthened tube are analysed during the entire impact process. The results indicate that the impact resistance of the strengthened tube is obviously enhanced as compared to hollow stainless-steel tube. Furthermore, parametric studies are conducted to reveal the influence of axial compressive force, impact position, impact velocity and material strength on the impact behaviour of the strengthened tube. The results show that the application of axial compressive force reduced the impact force and increased the deformations of the strengthened tube. The impact resistance of the strengthened tube performed an increasing trend when moving the impact position towards the support and increasing the material strength. In addition, the increase of impact velocity significantly reduced the impact duration. Finally, design recommendations and process were proposed to facilitate the application of locally strengthened tube. • The impact response of locally strengthened stainless-steel tube was numerically studied. • The impact force, bending moment, stress and strain response and energy dissipation were analysed. • Concrete was found to dissipate more impact energy than the other parts. • The effects of variant parameters on impact performances of the strengthened tubes were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new locally-strengthened method was developed for steel tube. • Impact tests were conducted on the locally-strengthened steel tube. • The failure mode, impact force, displacement and energy absorption were studied. • Analytical model was proposed to predict impact force and displacement responses. This paper proposes a novel stainless-steel tube locally strengthened by a concrete-filled steel tube to resist impact loads. A drop hammer impact test system was used to determine the failure modes, impact forces, and displacement responses of the strengthened tubes under an impact load. The effects of the strengthening length and thickness of the concrete and outer steel tubes on the impact responses of the strengthened tubes were investigated. The impact resistance was found to improve with an increase in the thickness of the concrete and outer steel thickness. The test results also indicated that the strengthened tubes exhibited a flexural failure mode with a combination of local and global deformations. An analytical model for predicting the dynamic responses of the locally strengthened tubes was established based on an equivalent two-degree-of-freedom (TDOF) model. The analytically predicted results were compared with the experimental results, and the good consistency between these two results demonstrated the accuracy of the established analytical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multilayer energy absorbing panel was proposed for impact resisting. • The deformation process and energy absorption behaviour were revealed. • Key parameters affecting responses of the energy absorbing panel were studied. • An analytical model was developed to calculate the displacement response. The enhancement of structural protection can be achieved by using energy absorbing structures as sacrificial layers. In this study, a new steel-PU foam-concrete-tube multilayer energy absorbing panel (SFCTMEAP) is developed to improve the impact resistance of buildings and infrastructures, and its behaviour under impact loading is numerically and analytically studied. A Finite Element (FE) model is established using LS-DYNA to further study the behaviours of SFCTMEAP, and its results (including the failure mode, displacement–time and impact force–time curves) agree well with the test data. The SFCTMEAP presents a deformation mode of local indentation of the front energy absorbing layer, flexure of the steel-concrete-steel panel and collapse of PU foam-filled steel tubes (PUFSTs). The energy dissipations of variant components of the SFCTMEAP are obtained through the FE model and the PUFSTs is the main energy absorbing component. In addition, parametric studies are performed to obtain the influences of the impact location, initial momentum of impactor and thickness of PU foam panel on the response of SFCTMEAP. The results indicates that the specimen with larger impact eccentric distance dissipates less impact energy, and raising the initial momentum of the impactor is benefit to the energy dissipation by the PUFSTs. Moreover, an analytical model is developed to calculate the displacement history of SFCTMEAP under the impact loading. The displacement responses predicted by the analytical model are found to be in good agreement with the test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new multilayer energy absorbing panel was developed. • Impact tests were conducted on the energy absorbing panel. • The failure mode, impact force, displacement and energy absorption were studied. • An analytical model was proposed to predict the displacement response. A novel steel-polyurethane foam-concrete-tube multilayer energy absorbing panel (SFCTMEAP) was proposed in this paper, and it could be attached to the surface of the protected structure to mitigate impact loading. The impact tests on the SFCTMEAP were performed via using a drop-weight impact test machine. The investigated parameters in the impact tests included the thickness of concrete core as well as thickness and width of the steel tube. All tested specimens exhibited a combined failure mode, consisting of the local indentation of energy absorbing panel and the collapse of polyurethane foam-filled steel tubes. The energy absorbing performance of SFCTMEAP under impact loading was discussed in detail. Additionally, a three-degree-of-freedom model was proposed to obtain the displacement response of the SFCTMEAP, and the analytically-calculated displacement–time histories agreed well with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steel–concrete–steel (SCS) sandwich structures are increasingly adopted to improve the impact resistance of the buildings or infrastructures owing to their good structural performances. Recently, the SCS sandwich beams with interlocked angle connectors (SCSSB-IACs) have been developed, and their performances under impact loading have been experimentally studied. This paper presents detailed numerical analyses of the SCSSB-IACs subjected to impact loading and reveals its response mechanisms. The Finite Element (FE) models of the SCSSB-IACs were established using LS-DYNA, and the FE predictions showed a good agreement with the impact test data. The impact process as well as distribution and evolution of bending moment and shear force, stress and strain were discussed. Furthermore, the internal energy histories of the SCSSB-IACs were revealed by FE analyses. Numerical results indicated that the majority of impact energy was absorbed by the concrete and bottom faceplate, and the deformation of the SCSSB-IACs was dominated by a flexural manner. Finally, parametric studies were performed to reveal the effects of impact momentum, energy and location on the response of the SCSSB-IACs. • FE models of the steel-concrete-steel sandwich beam with interlocked angle connectors (SCSSB-IACs) were established. • The accuracy of FE models of the SCSSB-IACs was validated with experimental results. • The internal force distributions, strain and stress responses and energy response of the SCSSB-IACs were discussed. • Parametric studies were conducted to further reveal the failure mechanisms of SCSSB-IACs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the drop-weight impact loading tests were conducted to study the dynamic crushing behaviors of the proposed energy absorption connectors with curved plate and aluminum foam as energy absorber. The dynamic collapse modes of the connectors were obtained from the tests and three deformation processes were identified. The effects of loading rate, filled aluminum foam, curved plate thickness and radius on the energy absorption performances of the connectors were quantitatively evaluated, which showed that filling the connector with aluminum foam as well as increasing loading rate, curved plate thickness and radius generally led to increase of energy absorption capacity of the connector. Besides the experimental works, the numerical and analytical models were also developed to predict the force–displacement responses of the connectors and the accuracies of the two models were validated against the test results. The developed analytical model could be utilized as a convenient tool to quickly evaluate the energy absorption performances of such connectors under impact loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the impact responses of a steel–concrete–steel sandwich composite panel with novel interlocked angle connectors (SCSP-IACs). Impact tests on nine SCSP-IACs were performed via a hemispherical hammer. The failure modes of all specimens were determined as the local punching failure of the concrete core. Moreover, the impact force–time and displacement–time histories and the permanent deformation were discussed. The experiment results showed that increasing the steel faceplate thickness and concrete core height enhanced the impact performance of the SCSP-IACs. By contrast, increasing the IAC spacing weakened the impact performance. Moreover, the interlocking bolts slightly affected the impact responses of the SCSP-IACs. A finite element (FE) model was established and verified with test data. The model was used to analyze the internal forces and energy absorption of the SCSP-IACs under impact loads. The internal force diagrams of the panels at different impact stages were provided, and a significant hogging moment was observed from the bending moment distributions. The FE results also showed that the zones close to the center of the panel absorbed most of the impact energy. • A novel SCS panel with interlocked angle connectors (SCSP-IACs) was proposed. • The effects of variant parameters on impact responses of SCSP-IACs were studied. • Distributions of internal forces of SCSP-IACs under impact loads were revealed. • The variations of energy absorption in different zones of SCSP-IACs were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A SCS panel with energy absorption connectors (SCS-EC) was proposed for impact resisting. • Drop-weight impact tests and Finite Element simulations were conducted on the SCS-EC. • Failure modes and impact responses of the SCS-EC were obtained. • The effect of variant parameters on impact response of the SCS-EC was analyzed. This paper developed a new steel-concrete-steel sandwich panel with energy absorption connectors (SCS-EC) for resisting impact load, and the impact responses of the SCS-EC were studied by conducting impact tests and Finite Element (FE) simulations. The failure modes of the SCS-EC under impact loading could be categorized into two types based on the crushing magnitude of the energy absorption connector (EC). The EC was found to effectively dissipate impact energy via the plastic deformation of pleated steel plates and the compression of aluminum foam fillers. The steel-concrete-steel (SCS) panel showed the combination of global and local deformation under impact loading. Moreover, the influences of pleated plate thickness (t p) and angle (θ p), aluminum foam filler and initial momentum on the impact performances of the SCS-EC were studied quantitatively. The results showed that the SCS-EC exhibited enhanced impact resistance via increasing initial momentum of the impactor as well as filling aluminum foam in the EC and assuring the maximum crushing displacement of the EC being equal to its densification displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel multi-cell steel–concrete–steel (MCSCS) sandwich panel was proposed for enhancing impact resistance of the traditional steel–concrete–steel​ (SCS) sandwich panel. The MCSCS sandwich panel employed stiffeners and headed studs to improve the bonding behavior between faceplates and concrete core as well as enhance its composite action and impact resistance. Impact tests were conducted on seven MCSCS panels via employing a drop weight loading system, and the influences of impact direction, spacing of headed stud and steel plate thickness on responses of MCSCS panels were investigated. Furthermore, the Finite Element (FE) model of the MCSCS panel was established, and the FE predictions were shown to be reasonable as compared to test results. Two types of failure modes of MCSCS panels under impact load were obtained via analyzing the test and FE results. In addition, based on the verified FE model, the influences of stiffeners, impact location and curvature of hammer head on impact responses of MCSCS panels were revealed via parametric studies. The results of FE simulations indicated that the impact location and curvature of hammer head had evident effect on the energy absorption and impact response of the MCSCS panel. Moreover, owing to the employment of stiffeners, the impact resistance of the MCSCS panel was evidently enhanced as compared to the traditional SCS panel. • A novel multi-cell steel–concrete–steel (MCSCS) sandwich panel was proposed. • The influences of critical parameters on impact responses of MCSCS sandwich panels were analyzed. • The energy dissipation mechanism of the MCSCS sandwich panel was revealed. • Combined with the inertial force, a clear definition of the inertial stage in the impact process was given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic responses of steel–concrete–steel (SCS) sandwich beams with novel interlocked angle connectors (IACs) under low-velocity impact were studied and presented in this paper. The impact tests on the SCS sandwich beams were first implemented using a drop-weight impact test machine, and the failure modes, displacement, and impact responses were obtained from the tests. The varying parameters considered in the tests included the thicknesses of the concrete and steel faceplates, as well as the spacing and type of IACs. The test results indicated that nine specimens experienced flexural failure, and one specimen exhibited shear failure. Moreover, local buckling of the top steel faceplate occurred in four specimens with a relatively larger spacing of IACs. A two-degree-of-freedom (TDOF) analytical model considering the strain rate effect was proposed for the SCS sandwich beam to obtain their impact forces and mid-span displacements. The analytically-predicted responses of the SCS sandwich beam with IACs agreed well with the test data. • A novel interlocked angle connector (IAC) was developed for the steel–concrete–steel (SCS) sandwich beam. • Drop-weight impact tests on the SCS sandwich beams with IACs were performed. • Flexural and shear failure modes were observed for the SCS sandwich beams under impact load. • An analytical model was developed for obtaining dynamic responses of the SCS sandwich beam under impact load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel steel-PU foam-steel-concrete-steel panel was proposed for impact resisting. • Experimental tests on the proposed panels under drop weight impact loading were conducted. • More impact energy was found to be dissipated by "soft" layer of the panel. • An analytical model was proposed to predict displacement response of the panel under impact loading. A new steel-polyurethane foam-steel-concrete-steel (SPUFSCS) panel, which consists of "soft" and "stiff" layers, was proposed and its impact resistant performance was experimentally, numerically and analytically studied. The front "soft" layer, including a steel plate and polyurethane foam (PUF), was designed for dissipating impact energy and reducing peak force transmitted to the rear "stiff" layer (i.e., SCS panel). The SCS panel with high strength and ductility was employed for resisting the transmitted impact force from PUF. Experimental studies on SPUFSCS panels under impact loading were first conducted by employing an instrumented drop weight impact test system to reveal their failure modes, impact force and displacement responses. The impact energy was found to be dissipated through local indentation and global deformation of the SPUFSCS panel. The Finite Element (FE) models of the tested SPUFSCS panels under impact loading were established and validated against the experimental results. Numerical results indicated that the impact energy dissipated by "soft" layer is higher than that of "stiff" layer, which demonstrated the benefits of employing "soft" layer on improving the impact resistance of the traditional SCS panel. In addition, an analytical model was also presented for predicting the displacement response of the SPUFSCS panel under impact loading. The analytical model was proven to be reasonable in predicting the displacement response by comparing with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel cladding sandwich panel with aluminum foam-filled tubular cores (AFTC panel) was proposed to enhance the impact resistant performance of the traditional sandwich panel with empty tubular cores (ETC panel). The impact force and displacement responses, failure modes and energy absorption of the ETC and AFTC panels under impact loading were studied via drop-weight impact tests and numerical simulations. It was found that the impact process of the sandwich panel could be divided into three stages. In addition, the tubular cores and aluminum foam filler were found to dissipate the majority of the impact energy. The effects of impactor shape, impact position, aluminum foam filler and thickness ratio of flat steel plate to tube ( t f / t t ) on the impact behaviors of the sandwich panels were quantitatively studied. The results indicated that the impact force and energy absorption could be improved via filling aluminum foam, increasing the aluminum foam density and increasing the contact area between the impactor and sandwich panel. Filling aluminum foam could also avoid the sharp increase of the impact force after the compaction of the sandwich panel. The impact position exhibited little effect on the energy absorption of the sandwich panel when it was away from the edge of the sandwich panel. Moreover, the sandwich panel generally exhibited better energy absorption performances via specifying the flat steel plate and tubular cores to be of similar thickness. • A novel cladding sandwich panel was proposed for dissipating impact energy. • Drop-weight impact tests and FE simulations were conducted on the sandwich panel. • Failure modes and energy absorption behaviors of the sandwich panel were obtained. • The effect of variant parameters on responses of the sandwich panel was analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A steel-polyurethane foam-steel–concrete-steel (SPUFSCS) composite structure is proposed. • Low-velocity impact test on SPUFSCS panel is conducted, and local indentation and global deformation is observed. • The panel with polyurethane foam (PUF) layer exhibits better impact resistant performance than traditional steel–concrete-steel (SCS) panel. • Impact energy dissipated by the PUF layer is more than that of SCS layer. This paper presents a study on the low-velocity impact response of a new steel-polyurethane foam-steel–concrete-steel (SPUFSCS) panel. The SPUFSCS composite panel consisted of a steel faceplate and polyurethane foam (PUF) with a density of 193 kg/m3 that were attached to the front of the traditional steel–concrete-steel (SCS) panel. Low-velocity impact tests on the SPUFSCS panels were conducted by employing an instrumented drop hammer impact test system, and the failure modes of the SPUFSCS panels were found to consist of local indentation and global deformation. The impact process of the panels can be divided into three stages: PUF crushing, loading, and unloading. The impact force, displacement histories, and permanent deformation of the SPUFSCS panels were recorded and discussed in detail. The effects of concrete thickness and ratio of the thickness of the middle plate to that of the bottom plate on the impact responses of the SPUFSCS panels were experimentally studied. The finite element method was employed to predict the behavior of the SPUFSCS panel under impact loading, and good agreement was observed between the experimental and numerical results. Moreover, a parametric study was conducted to reveal the influence of the thickness of the PUF and top steel plate on the dynamic response of the SPUFSCS composite panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural performance of the Steel-Concrete-Steel (SCS) sandwich beams with bolt connectors subjected to off-center impact load was investigated in this paper. Nine SCS sandwich beams were tested under impact loading by employing a drop hammer impact test system. The influences of concrete core depth, steel plate thickenss, top to bottom steel plate thickness ratio, and impact location on the responses of SCS sandwich beams were experimentally studied. The experiments revealed three failure modes of the SCS sandwich beams, i.e., flexure, flexure-shear, and fracture of the bottom steel plate. The separation of steel plates was prevented, and the structural integrity of the SCS sandwich beams was maintained despite the impact near the support, owing to the presence of bolt connectors. An analytical model was developed to predict the displacement–time histories of the SCS sandwich beams subjected to impact load. The predicted displacement responses showed a good match with the experimental results. Moreover, the force–displacement curves obtained from the analytical model and impact tests were compared, and good agreement between them could be observed. [Display omitted] • Off-center impact behaviors of SCS sandwich beams with bolt connectors were investigated. • Three failure modes, i.e., flexure, flexure-shear and fracture of bottom plate for the SCS beams. • The locations of impact on the SCS sandwich beams changed their failure modes. • An analytical model was proposed for predicting impact-induced displacement of the SCS beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new stiffener-enhanced steel–concrete–steel (SESCS) sandwich beam was proposed for impact resisting, and the dynamic response of the SESCS sandwich beam under low-velocity impact loading was experimentally, numerically and analytically studied. Drop weight impact loading tests on SESCS sandwich beams were first conducted to obtain their failure modes, impact forces and displacement responses. All the tested beams exhibited flexural failure modes, and the impact resistance was found to be significantly improved for the beam enhanced with stiffeners in the tension plate. The Finite Element (FE) model of the SESCS sandwich beam under impact loading was established and validated against the test data in terms of failure mode, impact force and displacement. In addition, an analytical model was also developed for predicting displacement response of the SESCS sandwich beam under impact loading. The analytical-predicted displacement responses were found to be well matched with the FE-predictions and test results, which demonstrated the accuracy of the proposed analytical model. • A new stiffener-enhanced steel–concrete–steel (SESCS) sandwich beam was proposed. • Drop weight impact tests on the SESCS sandwich beams were conducted. • Flexural failure mode was observed for the SESCS sandwich beams under impact load. • An analytical model was proposed for predicting displacement response of the SESCS sandwich beam under impact load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low velocity impact performance of curved steel-concrete-steel (CSCS) sandwich shells with bolt connectors subjected to a hemi-spherical head drop hammer was investigated in this paper. Experimental results including impact force history, displacement history and permanent deformation were analyzed to reveal the influences of concrete core and steel plate thickness as well as shear connectors' spacing on the impact performances of CSCS shells. The impact process consisted of three stages, i.e., inertial stage, loading stage and unloading stage. Meanwhile, three failure types were observed from the nine specimens subjected to impact load. They were plastic deformation of steel plate without fracture (Failure type I), fracture of steel plate (Failure type II) and penetration of steel plate (Failure type III). The presence of bolt connectors was proven to be an effective way to prevent the detachment of steel plates from concrete core. Moreover, finite element (FE) method was used to simulate the CSCS shells subjected to impact load. The accuracy of the FE model was verified by comparing the impact load history, displacement history and failure type from FE simulations with test results. It turned out that concrete core was the main part to dissipate impact energy, followed by top steel plate and bottom steel plate. • Nine CSCS sandwich shells subjected to low velocity impact were experimentally conducted. • Failure modes and mechanism of CSCS sandwich shells under impact load were summarized. • Parameters influencing peak impact force and displacements of CSCS sandwich shells were experimentally analyzed. • Finite element model was validated and energy absorption of CSCS sandwich shell was numerically investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the dynamic crushing responses of polyurethane foam-filled energy absorption connectors with asymmetric pleated plates were studied through drop-weight impact tests and FE simulations, from which three deformation stages were identified according to the formation and rotation of plastic hinges of asymmetric pleated plates. The effects of polyurethane foam filler as well as thickness and geometric parameter k of pleated plate on the energy absorption characteristics of connectors were analyzed quantitatively. The results indicated that filling polyurethane foam and increasing parameter k could result in higher energy absorption and specific energy absorption. In addition, thicker pleated plate could also increase energy absorption and crushing force. The results also showed that filling polyurethane foam and decreasing parameter k could reduce the peak force before densification and thus, improving crush force efficiency. Moreover, a theoretical model, considering strain rate effects of polyurethane foam and steel, was also proposed to predict energy absorption–displacement relationships of the polyurethane foam-filled connectors subjected to impact loading and its correctness was validated by comparing the calculations with experimental results. • The novel energy absorption connector with polyurethane foam and asymmetric pleated plates is proposed. • The energy absorbing connectors were tested under drop-weight impact loading. • The energy absorption performances of the proposed connectors are quantitatively evaluated. • Finite element models were established to simulate the connectors under impact loading. • The analytical model considering strain rate effects of steel and polyurethane foam was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel energy absorption connector with PU foam and multiple pleated plates was proposed and two deformation patterns of the connector was observed. • The proposed connector dissipated energy through plastic deformation of multiple plated plates and PU foam compression. • PU foam filler could evidently improve the energy absorption performance in terms of higher EA, SEA and CFE as well as stabilizing the deformation mode. • The developed analytical model considering the transient strain rate effect of steel and PU foam could offer acceptable predictions on the force–displacement responses of the connectors. An innovative energy absorbing connecter with polyurethane (PU) foam and multiple pleated (MP) plates was designed to be placed between blast-resistant façade and structure to absorb blast-related energy along with reducing peak blast pressure transferred to the structure. Since the energy absorbing connector usually experiences impact loading transferred from blast-resistant façade, the deformation modes, force–displacement responses and energy absorbing characteristics of the contrived connectors subjected to impact loading were evaluated via employing drop-weight impact tests and FE simulations. The energy absorption, specific energy absorption as well as crushing force efficiency of the connectors were quantitatively evaluated. The experimental results revealed that filling PU foam could evidently enhance the energy absorbing performance of the connectors via increasing energy absorption, specific energy absorption as well as crushing force efficiency. Besides, increasing angle θ 0 (angle between MP plate and flat plate) and thickness of MP plate also leaded to higher specific energy absorption and absorbed energy. Finally, an energy-balance based analytical model incorporating transient strain rate effects of both steel and PU foam was proposed, which could be employed as a simple alternative to quickly yield the force–displacement relation of the connector. The accuracy of the developed analytical model was also validated with the experimental and finite element results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the aluminum alloy building structure is at risk of the accidental impact loadings, which seriously threatens the personal security and the safety of the property. However, the existing research on the local lateral impact performance of the aluminum foam-filled tube applied to building structures is limited. In this study, impact tests on 9 aluminum foam-filled tubes with fixed boundaries were conducted by using a drop hammer impact test device to investigate the dynamic performance of the foam-filled tube under local lateral low-velocity impact loadings. The failure modes, impact force histories, displacement histories, and permanent deformation of the foam-filled tubes were obtained and compared with those of the empty tubes under the same impact loading. The finite element (FE) model was also established via the software ANSYS/LS-dyna and the accuracy of the FE method was verified against impact test results. Based on the experimental and numerical results, the aluminum foam-filled aluminum tube shows better lateral impact resistant performance than the empty tube due to the support effect of the aluminum foam on the tube wall by good energy absorption and deformation characteristics. Especially, filling the aluminum foam prevents the generation of cracks for the composite tube near the impact position when the impact energy is high. The influence law of the aluminum foam filler and its density, shape of hammer head on the lateral impact resistant performance of the aluminum foam-filled composite tube was then investigated based on the experimental and numerical results by consideration of the damage level, energy absorption, impact force–lateral displacement relationship, and permanent deformation. By filling the aluminum foam into the empty tube, the energy absorption is improved by up to 67.2% and 44.9%, respectively, when the hammer displacement reaches 20 mm and 40 mm within the impact load condition conducted in this study. • Local lateral impact behavior on fully clamped AL foam-filled tube is studied. • AL foam filler improves the impact resistance and energy absorption capacity. • The interaction between AL foam and tube wall decreases deformation degree of tube. • Both depth and length of the local deformation region are reduced after filling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lateral impact tests on 6082-T6 aluminum alloy circular tubes are conducted. • Local indentation and buckling near the support are observed for all tubes. • The impact process is divided into four stages based on local indentation depth. • Most energy transmitted to the tube in the coupling and global deformation stages. Aluminum alloy components have been increasingly used in spatial structures in recent years for their advantages of high strength to mass ratio, great corrosion resistance, and low environmental pollution. In this study, impact tests on the 6082-T6 aluminum tube with circular hollow section were carried out to reveal its dynamic response under lateral impact loading, considering the accidental impact or terrorist attack that the aluminum alloy spatial structures may suffer. Four failure modes were observed from the test results, including "three plastic hinges" mode, crack at the impact position, crack at the support, and fracture at the support. The impact process was divided into four stages for the aluminum tubes without fracture: initial collision, coupling deformation, global deformation, and elastic recovery stages. Meanwhile, three stages including initial collision, coupling deformation, and failure stages were identified for the fractured tubes. The impact force, displacement, and surface strain were recorded and discussed in detail. Moreover, the impact energy transmitted to the aluminum tube was calculated based on the test results to investigate the energy absorption process of the tube under lateral impact loading. Finally, the influence of geometric parameter (section size and span of the tube), impact energy (initial impact velocity and hammer weight), impact position, and hammer shape on the dynamic behavior of the aluminum tube under lateral impact loading was analyzed based on the impact test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]