Crashworthiness optimization design of foam-filled tapered decagonal structures subjected to axial and oblique impacts

Abstract

In this research, crashworthiness of polyurethane foam-filled tapered decagonal structures with different ratios of a/b=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 was evaluated under axial and oblique impacts. These new designed structures contained inner and outer tapered tubes, and four stiffening plates connected them together. The parameter a/b corresponds to the inner tube side length to the outer tube one. In addition, the space between the inner and outer tubes was filled with polyurethane foam. After validating the finite element model generated in LS-DYNA using the results of experimental tests, crashworthiness indicators of SEA (specific energy absorption) and F_max (peak crushing force) were obtained for the studied structures. Based on the TOPSIS calculations, the semi-foam filled decagonal structure with the ratio of a/b=0.5 demonstrated the best crashworthiness capability among the studied ratios of a/b. Finally, optimum thicknesses (t₁ (thickness of the outer tube), t₂ (thickness of the inner tube), t₃ (thickness of the stiffening plates)) of the selected decagonal structure were obtained by adopting RBF (radial basis function) neural network and genetic algorithm.

Keywords

crashworthiness / foam-filled tapered structure / axial and oblique impact / RBF neural network and genetic algorithm / TOPSIS technique

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