Hierarchical Deformation Mechanisms and Energy Absorption in Bioinspired Thin-Walled Structures

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Biomimetics

Background:

• Lightweight, hierarchical thin-walled tubes are critical for impact resistance and energy absorption in aerospace and transportation.
• Traditional designs often face limitations in optimizing these properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To revolutionize thin-walled tube structures using bionic design principles.
• To enhance energy absorption performance through bio-inspired hierarchical designs.

Main Methods:

• Additive manufacturing was used to create integrated bionic hierarchical thin-walled tubes (IBHTTs).
• Diverse bionic structural and material combinations inspired by spider webs, beetle elytra, cuttlebone, and spiral wood fibers were explored.
• Mechanical testing and simulations were employed to evaluate performance.

Main Results:

• An IBHTT combining spider web, beetle elytra, and cuttlebone designs increased absorbed energy (EA) by 129.7% and specific energy absorption (SEA) by 21.8%.
• Spiral wood fiber-inspired features, including helical formations, further boosted EA by 397.5% and SEA by 67.0%, enhancing toughness.
• Adjustable helical angles in IBHTTs allowed for tailored compressive responses and distinct mechanical characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Bionic design principles offer a powerful approach to significantly improve the energy absorption capabilities of thin-walled tubes.
• The developed IBHTTs demonstrate potential for advanced applications requiring high impact resistance and energy absorption.
• This research paves the way for novel bionic engineering solutions in structural design.