The Effect of Energy Components Modifications on the Crashworthiness of Thin-Walled Structures

Thin-walled structures that serve as energy absorbers are widely used in the automotive industry, and it is well-known that they deform in a specific way under dynamic loading, forming plastic hinges along the yield line. The dynamic impact of these structures causes various phenomena that affect the formation of folds and, consequently, the dynamic response of the structure. The force-shortening curve, which is based on the unified crush efficiency indicators, is a key factor in determining the dynamic response of the structure. While there have been many studies on energy absorbers under static or quasi-static loading conditions, the effect of changing kinetic energy components (mass and velocity) on the obtained crush efficiency indicators is not as well understood. This article presents the results of experimental tests and nonlinear numerical simulations for eleven different initial conditions of the crashworthiness analysis. The tests showed a significant effect of changing the velocity and mass of the striker on the results obtained. Additionally, the nonlinear effect of the change in the velocity of the tup with respect to the peak force and total efficiency was demonstrated.