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Mechanical Analysis and Multi-Objective Optimization of Origami-Inspired Tree-Shaped Thin-Walled Structures Under
Honghao Zhang1,2, Zilong Meng1,2, Jixiang Zhang1,2
1School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China.
Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 28, 2025
Summary
Origami-inspired tree-shaped structures (OTSs) significantly reduce impact force (IPCF) in rail vehicles. This study optimized OTSs for enhanced safety, improving specific energy absorption (SEA) and}$. The optimized structure reduced IPCF by 31.2%.
Area of Science:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Transportation Safety
Background:
- Rail vehicle accidents cause significant casualties and economic losses.
- Energy-absorbing structures are crucial for passive safety in transportation.
- Origami-inspired structures offer potential for advanced energy absorption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the performance of origami-inspired tree-shaped structures (OTSs) under various surface conditions using numerical simulation.
- To optimize OTSs for improved energy absorption and reduced impact forces in rail vehicles.
- To validate a finite element model using experimental data.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulation of OTSs under diverse surface configurations.
- Finite element analysis for model validation.
- Multi-criteria decision-making integrating MOEA/D-DAE and TOPSIS for structural optimization.
Main Results:
- A 31.2% reduction in initial peak crushing force (IPCF).
- A 3.6% increase in specific energy absorption (SEA).
- A 10.4% increase in the ultimate load capacity (ULC).
Conclusions:
- The optimized OTSs demonstrate significant potential for enhancing rail vehicle safety.
- The integrated optimization method (MOEA/D-DAE and TOPSIS) is effective for designing energy-absorbing structures.
- Numerical simulations and experimental validation confirm the efficacy of the proposed structures and methods.
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