Crashworthiness optimization of new thin-walled cellular configurations

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to optimize a new thin-walled cellular configurations with crashworthiness criteria, so as to improve the crashworthiness of components of a vehicle body. Design/methodology/approach -ANSYS Parametric Design Language is used to create the parameterized models so that the design variables can be changed conveniently. Moreover, the surrogate technique, namely response surface method, is adopted for fitting objective and constraint functions. The factorial design and D-optimal criterion are employed to screen active parameters for constructing the response functions of the specific energy absorption and the peak crushing force. Finally, sequential quadratic programming-NLPQL is utilized to solve the design optimization problem of the new cellular configurations filled with multi-cell circular tubes under the axial crushing loading. Findings -Two kinds of distribution modes of the cellular configurations are first investigated, which are in an orthogonal way and in a diamond fashion. After comparing the optimized configurations of the rectangular distribution with the annular distribution of the multi-cell fillers, it is found that the orthogonal way seems better in the aspects of crashworthiness than the diamond fashion. Originality/value -The two new thin-walled cellular configuration are studied and optimized with the crashworthiness criteria. Study on the new cellular configurations is very valuable for improving the crashworthiness of components of a vehicle body. Meanwhile, the factorial design and the factor screening are adopted in the process of the crashworthiness optimization of the new thin-walled cellular configurations.

Crashworthiness of bio-inspired multi-stage nested multi-cell structures with foam core

“…While MOO is generally applied for optimization, MODM allows for identifying the most suitable design when multiple designs are involved. Examples of the application of MOO for crashworthiness optimization of thinwalled and foam-filled tubes can be found in the works of Hou et al [27][28][29] and other authors [30][31][32][33]. When it comes to MODM, Tarlochan et al [34] applied the COPRAS method to identify the best-performing tube design from comparable alternatives.…”

Crashworthiness analysis and optimization of standard and windowed multi-cell hexagonal tubes

“…Pareto front, which is a set of optimal solutions, is normally obtained as a result of applying the optimization process. Hou et al (2007Hou et al ( , 2008Hou et al ( , 2014 used the aforementioned tools to solve a multi-objective crashworthiness optimization problem of multi-cell tubes. Tran and Baroutaji (2018) performed crashworthiness optimization analysis of multi-cell triangular tubes and analyzed their energy absorption characteristics.…”

Investigation of the numerical, experimental, statistical and optimization of thin-walled energy absorber with novel configuration using response surface method under axial loading

“…Optimization of parameters collapse of an energy absorber is one of the most common subject on thin-walled structures, which has been carried out using various optimization methods [23,24]. In the last few years, a discussion was also performed by Pyrz and Krzywoblocki [25] to get a suitable geometry and optimal dimensions of the thin-walled tube cross section to augment the energy absorption capacity using the Macro Element Method.…”