Maximization of the impact energy absorption of stiffened and unstiffened square tubes

摘要

The axial impact crushing behaviors of square tubes with and without stiffeners are studied by Finite Element method. Comparisons of mean axial crushing force between numerical estimations and theoretical predications as well as qualitative comparisons of folding patterns between numerical simulations and experimental observations are made and discussed. Based on the numerical analyses, maximization problems of dynamic crushing energy absorption of square tubes with and without stiffeners are solved respectively by using the crashworthiness maximization technique for tubular structures which combined the techniques of design-of-experiment, response surface approximation as well as usual mathematical programming. In addition, the capacities of crushing energy absorption of cylindrical tubes and square tubes with and without stiffeners are also compared.