Crashworthiness design and analysis for novel multi-corner square columns under axial loading

Abstract

Due to the low manufacture cost and easy installation, tubal structures are common utilized as energy absorbers in automotive and other engineering industries. In the present work, four novel reinforced multi-corner columns (RMCs) were investigated using numerical, theoretical, and experimental approaches, results showed that the RMCs had prominent crushing performances compared with other typical multi-cell tubes. Furthermore, the TOPSIS method and multi-objective optimization were conducted to find the best structure and its optimal design parameters, respectively. The optimized column showed excellent crashworthiness capacities and had great potential to be used as energy-absorbing components in engineering applications.