The crash characteristics of an extruded aluminum tube was evaluated by conducting compressive tests at the different rate of deformation and the results were numerically simulated. The numerical results obtained using finite element method were compared with compressive test results and theoretical studies. The test data was analyzed for mode of deformation, peak force and energy absorption characteristics. The results indicated that the simulation results and theoretical predictions correlated well with the results of the compressive test. © 2010 IEEE.