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Project # 46
Investigating Polygon Patterned Cylindrical Crush Tubes for Crashworthiness
| Team Lead: | Ryan Shrestha |
| Other Team Members: | Pablo Martinez |
| Faculty Advisor(s): | Dr. Shiyao Lin |
| Department: | MAE |
| Project Type: | REU |
| Title: | Investigating Polygon Patterned Cylindrical Crush Tubes for Crashworthiness |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we designed, manufactured, tested, and analyzed a category of metamaterials, twisted polygon-patterned cylindrical tube (TPCT), tailored for the crashworthiness of eVOTL. Preliminary computational results using elastic-plastic finite element simulation revealed a 23% increase in crushing force efficiency going from a plain cylindrical crush tube to a hex-patterned crush tube, though at a major loss in specific energy absorption (-70%). A more predictable deformation was also seen with the hex-patterned crush tube. Furthermore, a 17% increase in crushing force efficiency was observed between a hex tube with no hexagon distortion and a hex tube with a 30-degree distortive tilt. However, the energy absorption of the crush tube decreases with increasing torsional tilt, as densification is achieved earlier. Experimentally, hex tubes made with VeroUltra, a photopolymer material, failed much quicker than in the elastic-plastic simulations, which were verified once damage modeling was introduced into the simulation. Using less brittle material and a multi-material design containing soft material as an infill for the cutouts is proposed to increase the effective stroke of the crush tube. The parametric study carried out in this work will be integrated into a fast machine-learning-based surrogate modeling and optimization framework to maximize crashworthiness. |
| Poster: | View Poster #46 (PDF) |
| Judges Scoring: | Submit Evaluation (judges only) |