Energy absorption characteristics of nested corrugated-elliptical tubes subjected to a lateral crushing load

This paper proposes a novel nested corrugated-elliptical tube (NCET) system as an energy absorber. The crushing characteristics of the NCET are investigated under lateral load through quasi-static experiments and finite element analysis. The NCET shows a low initial stiffness and stable deformation process, and a dual-plateau force displacement curve with a high energy absorption is generated in the experimental crushing process. Further-more, the crushing characteristic of the dual-plateau stages makes the NCET exhibit a greater specific energy absorption (SEA) and lower initial peak crushing force (IPCF) than that of the single-walled tube and typical nested energy absorbers. The influence of the wave crest N, amplitude A and wall thickness t on the crushing behavior of the NCET is numerically investigated to further understand the crushing mechanism of the NCET under a lateral load. The result shows that the wall-thickness t is the most sensitive to the SEA and IPCF. Moreover, the wave crest N and amplitude A have a large influence on the deformation mode and the IPCF of the NCET. This study provides a novel corrugated nested design method to promote mechanical properties of an energy absorber under a lateral load.