Abstract: In view of the high strength and high stiffness features of carbon nanotubes, a kind of carbon nanotube reinforced polyurethane foam composite is prepared, and test and simulation are conducted to explore the crushing mechanism, energy absorption characteristics and applications of carbon nanotube reinforced polyurethane foam and the compound structure of its filled thin-walled pipe. Then through quasi-static compression test, the load-deflection curves of foams with different proportions of carbon nanotube are obtained, their capabilities of load bearing and energy absorption are compared, and the optimum mass fraction of carbon nanotube added is determined. Next, test and simulation are performed on the energy absorption characteristics of thin-walled pipes and form-filled thin-walled pipes, verifying the effectiveness of FE model for foam-filled structure. Finally carbon nanotube reinforced polyurethane foam is filled into the B-pillar of a car to validate its energy absorption effects. The results show that the maximum intrusion and intrusion velocity of foam-filled B-pillar are obviously reduced, exhibiting good energy absorption feature while meeting lightweight requirements

Key words: carbon nanotubes, polyurethane foam, energy absorption characteristics, thin-walled pipe, B-pillar