Finite Element Modeling for the Simulation of the Quasi-Static Compression of Corrugated Tapered Tubes

Summary

This protocol describes the study of the quasi-static compression performance of corrugated tapered tubes using finite element simulations. The influence of the thickness gradient on the compression performance was investigated. The results show that proper thickness gradient design can change the deformation mode and significantly improve the energy absorption performance of the tubes.

Abstract

In this study, the quasi-static compression performance of tapered tubes was investigated using finite element simulations. Previous studies have shown that a thickness gradient can reduce the initial peak force and that lateral corrugation can increase the energy absorption performance. Therefore, two kinds of lateral corrugated tapered tubes with variable thicknesses were designed, and their deformation patterns, load displacement curves, and energy absorption performance were analyzed. The results showed that when the thickness variation factor (k) was 0.9, 1.2, and 1.5, the deformation mode of the single corrugated tapered tube (ST) changed from transverse expansion and contraction to axial progressive folding. In addition, the thickness gradient design improved the energy absorption performance of the ST. The energy absorption (EA) and specific energy absorption (SEA) of the model with k = 1.5 increased by 53.6% and 52.4%, respectively, compared with the ST model with k = 0. The EA and SEA of the double corrugated tapered tube (DT) increased by 373% and 95.7%, respectively, compared with the conical tube. The increase in the k value resulted in a significant decrease in the peak crushing force of the tubes and an increase in the crushing force efficiency.

Introduction

Crashworthiness is an essential issue for lightweight automobiles, and thin-walled structures are widely used to improve crashworthiness. Typical thin-walled structures, such as round tubes, have good energy absorption capacity but usually have large peak forces and load fluctuations during the crushing process. This problem can be solved by introducing axial corrugations^1,2,3. The presence of corrugations allows the tube to plastically deform and fold according to a predesigned corrugation pattern, which can reduce the peak force and load fluctuations⁴

Protocol

1. Creating the surface in the CAD software

1. Open the CAD software (see Table of Materials), left-click on File, left-click on New, and select Part.
2. In Part1, right-click on Top, and select Show.
3. Create a new plane: Press Ctrl, and left-click to select the Top plane and drag it up. Enter 30 mm as the

Discussion

The quasi-static compression performance of tapered tubes was studied by finite element analysis. Two new types of corrugated tapered tubes with variable thicknesses were designed, and their quasi-static compression performance was investigated. In quasi-static compression simulations, some important steps and settings need to be verified.

The material parameters are the basic requirements for the finite element calculation (step 2.2.1 of the protocol). In this study, the material parameters w.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
ABAQUS	Dassault SIMULIA	Finite element software
CT	Botong 3D printing	Conical tube for experiment
SOLIDWORKS	Dassault Systemes	CAD software
Universal testing machine	SUNS	UTM5205, 200kN