Effect of cyclic temperature change on selected properties of road energy absorbers

MINIATURA 8

Funding Organization: National Science Centre

Project title: Effect of cyclic temperature change on selected properties of road energy absorbers

Agreement number: DEC-2024/08/X/ST8/00216

Project implementation period: 11.07.2024 - 10.07.2025

Principal Investigator: dr inż. Michał Karol Rogala

Project value: 49 238,00 PLN

Funds granted for Lublin University of Technology: 49 238,00 PLN

Abstract: The purpose of the applied scientific activity will be to study the effect of cyclically varying temperature on the mechanical properties of road energy absorbers. Passive absorbers made of conventional materials ( e.g. aluminum alloys) possess a specific mechanism of mechanical energy dissipation based on plastic deformation of the structure. The research topic undertaken was formulated on the basis of the exploitation conditions of road energy absorbers. Long-term temperature fluctuations (even by a few tens of degrees), can affect the mechanical properties of structural materials contributing to the degradation of the crush efficiency indicators of road energy absorbers. The subject of research carried out within the framework of the scientific activity will be thin-walled columns subjected to kinetic energy. The energy absorbers will be made of aluminum alloy AA-6063-T6. The columns will have constant geometrical parameters, i.e. 200 mm (height), 40x40 mm (cross section), 1.2 mm ( thickness of the wall). The specimens will be subjected to cyclic temperature change for a period of time corresponding to 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and 20 years. In order to properly evaluate the results of the tests in terms of quantity and quality, three samples of each type will be analyzed. The measurable effect of the ongoing research will be to determine the effect of cycle-change temperature on the plastic deformation of road energy absorbers. The analysis of the results will serve as a starting point for further work related to the evaluation of the yield properties of different aluminum alloys under various loading conditions in particular with a focus on high strain rates.