LOCALLY REINFORCED HOLLOW STRUCTURES AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

摘要

A reinforced tubular structure is manufactured by tacking a metal foam precursor (12) into a tubular member (14) and activating the foaming agent to reinforce a desired segment of the tube. The precursor may also be placed prior to the roll forming of the tube. Alternatively, a molded-to-size pre-foamed metal foam reinforcement may be inserted into place.