Seyed Mohammad Elahi - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran
Jafar Rouzegar - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran
Hasan Asaee - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran

Axial splitting has been recognized as an efficient energy dissipation mechanism for obtaining a relatively constant force over a long stroke. This paper investigates axial splitting of metal frusta, experimentally. Specimens were prepared using spinning method and were tested using Zwick testing machine with cross-head speed of 5 mm/min and compressed between a rigid plate on top and a rigid conical die with the semi-apical angle of 60˚. Also, load-displacement diagrams, deformations and energy absorption capacity of frusta and metal circular tube are compared with each other, during axial splitting. Each axial splitting process contains five steps which have been studied in detail in this research.

Splitting process, Frusta, Circular tube, Metal, Energy absorption