Optimization of Impact Energy Absorption Performance of Cylindrical Honeycomb Structure

Abstract

With the progress of the shift to EVs in automobiles, the improvement of "electricity cost" has become an important issue. In order to improve electricity cost, it is especially necessary to reduce the weight of the vehicle body structure other than the battery since the battery itself have large portion of the vehicle weight. Therefore, the possibility of using a lightweight and high strength cylindrical honeycomb structure proposed by Origami Engineering as an impact energy absorbing member that accounts for a relatively large proportion of the vehicle body weight was investigated. To evaluate the impact energy absorption performance, the cylindrical honeycomb structure, the conventional tubular honeycomb member and the box beam type member were compared, and tried to optimize the thickness of the members for weight reduction while maintaining the current impact energy absorption performance. As the result, it was shown that the cylindrical honeycomb structure had excellent energy absorption performance than other members.