Investigation of the performance of multi-cellular energy absorbers with functionally graded thickness under impact loading

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 فنی مهندسی، دانشگاه رازی، کرمانشاه، ایران

2 razi university

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hamedan University of Technology, Hamedan, Iran.

Abstract

In recent years, multi-cellular structures have gained significant attention as energy absorbers in automotive engineering to mitigate occupant injuries in collisions. This paper investigates the energy absorption of square shape thin-walled structures with constant thickness and functionally graded thickness under dynamic axial impact loading using both analytical and numerical methods. Four types of square profiles, including single-cell, two-cell, four-cell, and five-cell profiles, were studied. Simulations were conducted using the Finite Element Analysis Abaqus software to obtain force-displacement and energy-time curves. In the analytical method, equations for absorbed energy and axial collapse force were derived based on the folding theory and extended to profiles with functionally graded thickness. There is good agreement between analytical and numerical methods. Results of the analytical and numerical methods showed that five-cell profiles performed significantly better than single-cell profiles. In numerical simulations and analytical solutions, five-cell profiles absorbed 66% and 56% more energy, respectively, compared to single-cell profiles in both constant and functionally graded thickness conditions. The average collapse force in the analytical method was compared with numerical results, and the computational error was less than 9%.

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References

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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 56, Issue 10
2025
Pages 1451-1472

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