Dynamic axial crush analysis and design optimization of a square multi-cell thin-walled tube with lateral variable thickness

摘要: Abstract In this paper, we proposed a strategy to improve the energy absorption efficiency of square multi-cell tube by designing lateral wall thickness distribution. We uniformly arranged walls so that could vary while forming tube. Explicit formulations for predicting mean crushing force under axial compression were derived based upon Super Folding Element method. The capacities variety typical tubes with different distribution obtained theoretical and numerical analysis. results have good agreement simulation performed explicit non-linear finite element showed be improved modifying thicknesses optimization on surrogate model prediction was carried out find optimal 3 × 3 found has better properties when material is concentrated in center cross-section. Based results, non-convex multi-corner variable resulted 48.3% improvement capacity compared traditional uniform