Bio-inspired energy absorbers: Evolutionary designs and mechanical performance under various loading conditions

Abstract

Driven by the continuous advancements in energy absorber geometries to enhance energy absorption performance, this study utilizes the capabilities of 3D printers to investigate the evolution of energy absorber geometries from simple to multi-cellular, and subsequently to bio-inspired structures. The energy absorption behavior of these structures under axial, three-point bending, and lateral loading conditions is examined. Three distinct bio-inspired designs were introduced to address the challenges of different loading conditions. In addition to experimental evaluations, detailed numerical simulations were conducted to deepen the understanding of deformation mechanisms and to assess the influence of different material types, specifically PLA and TPU, on structural performance. These bio-inspired solutions not only improve the performance of energy absorbers but also highlight the elegance of incorporating biological principles into engineering. The results show that bio-inspired geometries, with their complex designs, enable progressive crushing and offer superior specific energy absorption compared to conventional structures under various loading scenarios. By employing bio-inspired geometries, the specific energy absorption (SEA) was significantly enhanced compared to simple and multi-cell configurations by 43.75% and 29.74% under axial loading, 82.86% and 62.83% under three-point bending, and 98.96% and 81.99% under lateral loading, respectively. The findings demonstrate that nature-inspired design significantly optimizes performance and efficiency, promising a major impact on the development of more innovative and sustainable engineering solutions. The originality of this work lies in its holistic framework that bridges geometry, material selection, and multi-loading functionality, paving the way for next-generation energy-absorbing structures.

Topics & Concepts