Energy absorption of multi-cell stub columns under axial compression

• Quasi-static axial compression experiments are carried out for multi-cell columns.
• Numerical analyses are conducted to simulate the experimental tests.
• Constitutive element method is proposed to predict the crush resistance of columns.
• Theoretical predictions compare very well with experimental and numerical results.

Multi-cell metal columns were found to be much more efficient in energy absorption than single-cell columns under axial compression. However, the experimental investigations and theoretical analyses of them are relatively few. In this paper, the quasi-static axial compression tests are carried out for multi-cell columns with different sections. The significant advantage of multi-cell sections over single cell in energy absorption efficiency is investigated and validated. Numerical simulations are also conducted to simulate the compression tests and the numerical results show a very good agreement with experiment. Theoretial analyses based on constitutive element method are proposed to predict the crush resistance of multi-cell columns and the theoretical predictions compare very well with the experimental and numerical results.