Abstract
A buffer mechanism is proposed for transforming the unstable dynamic load produced by drop-weight into a “stable” dynamic load, which is similar to the effect of high-pressure gas impact. To achieve the design requirements and simulate high-pressure gas induced impact, the structure dimensions of the buffer mechanism were determined via the enumeration method by using the custom development of the finite element software ABAQUS. To assess the performance of the designed buffer mechanism, simulations and drop-weight tests were carried out. The numerical and experimental results show that the load transformation performance of this buffer mechanism is reliable and stable. In addition, simulations were carried out to study the performances of the buffer mechanism unit with different arrangements. The numerical results show that the buffer mechanism can produce a stable dynamic load with longer time or larger force when used in series or parallel structure, respectively.