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.