Installation of Concave Geometry in Thin-Walled Polygonal Shell Members for Controlling Plastic Buckling Behavior
Yoshiaki NAKAZAWA, Kenji TAMURA, Takayuki KUSAKA, Michitaka YOSHIDA and Masaki HOJO
Abstract:By using finite element analysis, effects of installing concave geometry in thin-walled octagonal shell members on plastic buckling behavior were studied to evolve a novel design method of the crash box for automobiles. Numerical results showed that the installation of concave geometry in thin-walled octagonal shell members enabled to shorten the wavelength of plastic buckling and consequently to improve the plastic buckling load. This buckling load became larger as the concave width and the concave depth increased. Moreover the installation of concave geometry changed the phases of plastic buckling between adjacent regions in the circumferential direction. A novel design scheme improving crash energy absorption of thin-walled polygonal shell members was also established on the basis of the above outcomes. Key Words:Structural Design, Impact Energy Absorption, Thin-Walled Polygonal Shells, Plastic Buckling, Concave, FEM