Energy absorption behaviors of a novel buffer lander-leg with Yoshimura core

Abstract

In the current soft-landing system, the lander-leg and the buffer are two independent parts which may cause weight problem. The traditional mechanical buffers also have their own shortcomings such as small buffer stroke and being non-reusable. A Novel Buffer Lander-leg with Yoshimura core (NBLY) is proposed in this paper, inspired by the Buckling Restrained Brace (BRB). The design details of NBLY and parameter definitions of the core are presented. The finite element analysis modes have been employed to analyze the nonlinear mechanical behaviors of NBLY subjected to the cyclic loading. NBLY with four different core styles of hexagon, octagon, dodecagon and hexadecagon are analyzed and compared. The restraining ratio and cumulative dissipation energy ratio have been obtained to evaluate the energy absorption properties. The results show that the origami pattern has significant influences on the deformation ductility, plastic energy absorbing and axial load transferring to the core. The NBLY with octagon core has outstanding properties, especially the hysteretic energy dissipation and enhancement of compression capacity. The interaction mechanism between the core and encasing member constrains the deformation extensions and contributes to the frictional energy dissipation of the NBLYs. This paper provides a new conceptual design of buffer lander-leg for soft-landing missions. It can realize the reuse function as a buffer lander-leg with better loading-bearing and energy absorption behaviors.