Analysis of energy absorption characteristics of cylindrical multi-cell columns

A type of cylindrical multi-cell column is proposed to improve energy absorption performance, which is inspired by the phenomenon that the circular tube is more efficient than the square tube in energy absorption. This type of structure shows high performance in energy absorption for its considerable number of corners on the cross section and the angles between neighbor flanges are in the optimal range as well as some more efficient cylindrical shells have been adopted. Numerical examples illustrate that cylindrical multi-cell column is more efficient than square column and square multi-cell column in energy absorption. In addition, a parametric study considering the effects of geometrical parameters on the structural crashworthiness has been carried out. And it is found that wall thickness, the number of cells alone the radial and circumferential directions have a distinct effect on the energy absorption.

► The difference of energy absorption between circular and square tube is discussed.
► A type of cylindrical multi-cell column is proposed to improve energy absorption.
► Numerical results show new column is more efficient than square multi-cell column.
► Influence of geometrical parameters on crashworthiness is investigated.