Numerical Study and Multi-objective Optimization of an Energy Absorbing Connector with Curved Plate and Aluminum Foam

Abstract

This paper presents numerical works and multi-objective optimization of the energy absorbing connectors which was employed to dissipate blast/impact energy through curved plates and aluminum foam. Finite element models of the energy absorbing connectors under dynamic crushing load were established and validated with the impact loading tests. Then, the parametric studies were conducted to reveal the influences of crushing velocity, angle θ, curved plate thickness as well as length and height of aluminum foam on the energy absorbing characteristics. Increasing crushing velocity was shown to improve the absorbed energy of the connector owing to the strain rate enhancement and change of deformation mode. In addition, the absorbed energy could also be increased via increasing curve plate thickness, length and height of aluminum foam as well as decreasing angle θ. The multi-objective optimization was conducted by employing the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II. It was noted that the specific energy absorption and peak crushing force were conflicting with each other.