The effect of axial–torsion coupling on the compressive collapse behavior of Kresling tubes

Abstract

The coupled axial compressive and torsional response of thin-walled tubes, having Kresling geometric units in series, with hollow hexagonal cross-sections of similar wall thickness, is studied. The tubes are fabricated using multi-jet fusion technology with Polyamide-12 (PA12) material. Each tube is compressed under displacement-controlled quasi-static loading with roller boundary conditions to eliminate any reaction torque being induced in the tube. The tube’s deformation response is characterized by an initial load rise followed by a drop in the load past a load maximum. This load drop is caused by localized collapse within a single Kresling unit. The collapse mechanism is accompanied by relative rotation between the ends of the Kresling unit, indicating the presence of compression-twist coupling. After local densification in the collapsed Kresling unit is attained, the load rises and attains a peak followed by a second load drop causing the other Kresling unit to collapse. Finite Element (FE) simulations show that the nonlinearity of the material response influences the onset of the collapse of the Kresling unit. Results from the present study will be helpful in tailoring the geometry of the Kresling unit cells to attain desired energy absorption or to “tune” the end-displacement vs. rotation response of the structure.