Abstract: For the sake of developig a new kind of energy absorbing component used in the anchor bolt tail, the deformation and energy-absorption properties of axial splitting and curling of metal circular tubes were studied with the tubes, which were 26 mm in diameter and 3 mm or 4 mm in thickness.The energy absorption principle was analyzed by the energy method. The results show that there are two typical load stages in load-displacement curves, peak load and constant load, and constant axial load reaches up to 59.34-116.60 kN and the energy absorption value with constant load reaches up to 4.92-11.47 kJ. The axial splitting specimens deform stably, producing radially spiralstrips,and axial splitting behavior dissipates energy by plastic deformation of diameter expansion, splitting of the tube wall and strip friction. The theoretical values of constant axial load and energy absorption are close to the experimental values.

Key words: metal circular tube, axial splitting and curling, energy absorbing property, energy absorbing components, anchor bolt support, safety protection