Numerical and theoretical studies on energy absorption of three-panel angle elements

Honeycomb cellular structures and multi-cell prismatic columns are highly efficient and effective energy dissipating components and are widely used in the crashworthiness design of vehicles. Due to the complex features during large plastic deformation, only few special sections have been theoretical modeled for their energy absorption capacity under axial compression. In this paper, based on a simplified FE model, the energy absorption characteristics of angle elements with three panels are investigated by using the non-linear finite element code LS-DYNA. Theoretical models are proposed to predict the crush resistance of three-panel angle elements with different angles. Numerical results show that the proposed theoretical model can predict the energy absorption of these angle elements with good accuracy.

► Three-panel angle elements show two basic types of collapse modes.
► The variation of mean crushing force for elements with different angles is obtained.
► Theoretical models are proposed for two types of collapse modes.
► Theoretical models are validated by numerical results.