Crashworthiness design and analysis for novel multi-corner square columns under axial loading

Abstract

Due to the low manufacture cost and easy installation, tubal structures are common utilized as energy absorbers in automotive and other engineering industries. In the present work, four novel reinforced multi-corner columns (RMCs) were investigated using numerical, theoretical, and experimental approaches, results showed that the RMCs had prominent crushing performances compared with other typical multi-cell tubes. Furthermore, the TOPSIS method and multi-objective optimization were conducted to find the best structure and its optimal design parameters, respectively. The optimized column showed excellent crashworthiness capacities and had great potential to be used as energy-absorbing components in engineering applications.

Keywords:

• Multi-corner column
• Crashworthiness design
• Energy absorption
• Theoretical predictions
• TOPSIS
• Multi-objective optimization

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Dalian Science and Technology Innovation Fund Program [grant number 2019J11CY017]; Liaoning Provincial Innovation Team Program for Higher Education [grant number LT2016010] and the China National Railway Group Science and Technology Program [grant number N2020J027].