Superior Energy Absorption Research Articles

Energy absorption of braided composite tubes under quasi-static combined shear-compression loading

In this paper, the energy absorption performance of braided composite tubes under combined shear-compression loading is investigated. ABAQUS/Explicit is employed to analyze the energy absorption of braided composite tubes, and quasi-static compression tests are carried out. Braided composite materials absorb energy through the damage accumulation in laminate. Thus, to maximize energy absorption performance, a progressive crushing mode should be induced. While extensive research has been conducted on cases of axial loading, understanding of the energy absorption performance of braided composite tubes under combined shear-compression loading remains limited. Experimental results reveal that under both axial and combined shear-compression loading at 30 degrees, the braided composite tube exhibits a progressive crushing mode. The test results are utilized to validate the finite element model. Through finite element analysis, it is confirmed that the damage accumulation in laminate is maximized due to the induction of a progressive crushing mode. It means that the energy absorption principles of braided composites apply similarly to combined shear-compression loading, allowing for the maintenance of superior energy absorption performance of braided composites under various load angles.

Compression response and optimization design of a novel glass-sponge inspired lattice structure with enhanced energy absorption capacity

Lattice structures have shown tremendous prospects in engineering fields, because of the ultralight, strong and toughness properties. In this paper, a novel configuration of lattice structure (GSIBCC) inspired by the hierarchical skeleton system of glass sponges is proposed. The new configuration of the unit cell is based on modifying the inner cross struts of the body-centered cubic (BCC) lattice, by considering the double diagonal reinforcements and hybridization of unit cells. The compression properties and deformation mechanism of the GSIBCC lattice structure are compared with BCC, OCT (Octet) and other glass sponge inspired lattices. A multi-objective optimization method is established, for maximizing the specific energy absorption (SEA) and simultaneously reducing the compression strength. The novel GSIBCC lattice exhibits superior specific energy absorption than BCC, OCT, and other glass sponge inspired lattices. For example, GSIBCC shows maximum 145.06% improvement (ρ¯=0.124) of SEA with respect to BCC, and maximum 117.4% improvement (ρ¯=0.124) of SEA with respect to OCT. The novel lattice exhibits the whole deformation type and obvious second stress reinforcement effect. Besides, the mechanical properties of GSIBCC are further improved using the multi-objective optimization. The reported biomimicry design strategy, deformation and failure mechanism, and multi-objective optimization method will be beneficial for enriching the lattice system and promoting the multifunctional applications of lattice structures in engineering fields.

Energy absorption performance of Kresling origami tubes under impact loading

Thin-walled tubes with an origami design, particularly the Kresling pattern, exhibit superior mechanical properties compared to traditional straight tubes, including a more constant reaction force and predictable deformation. Despite their potential, research on these patterned structures, especially when made from structural materials like metal and tested under dynamic conditions, remains limited. This study investigates the compressive performance of aluminium Kresling origami tubes (KOTs) under quasi-static and impact scenarios (up to 30 m/s) in the axial direction. Results show that increased impact velocity leads to more localized deformation and improved energy absorption metrics. A validated numerical model was used to analyze the influence of hierarchy rotation, sector angles, and loading velocity on mechanical performance. Comparisons with Miura-ori patterned tubes and hexagonal cross-section straight tubes of the same relative density revealed that KOTs have superior energy absorption performance. An empirical model was developed to effectively predict the mean crushing stress of KOTs. In addition. a generative machine learning model was introduced to synthesize a large dataset from initial simulations, providing an efficient and reliable solution for energy absorption analysis in origami structures, addressing the challenge of limited specimen datasets.

Innovative Bistable Composites for Aerospace and High-Stress Applications: Integrating Soft and Hard Materials in Experimental, Modeling, and Simulation Studies.

This study explores the development and performance of bistable materials, emphasizing their potential applications in aero-vehicles and high-stress environments. By integrating soft and hard materials within a composite structure, the research demonstrates the creation of bistable composites that exhibit remarkable flexibility and rigidity. Advanced simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics and 3D-printed prototypes reveal that these materials effectively absorb and dissipate stress, maintaining structural integrity under high-pressure conditions. Compression tests highlight the ability of bistable structures to bear significant loads, distributing stress efficiently across multiple layers. The innovative proposal of combining stiff and flexible materials within a single unit cell enhances bistable behavior, offering superior energy absorption and resilience. This work underscores the promise of bistable materials in advancing materials science, providing robust solutions for aerospace, automotive, and protective gear applications and paving the way for future research in optimizing bistable structures for diverse engineering challenges.

Numerical and experimental study of energy absorption in multilayer tubes manufactured through spinning forming process under quasi-static axial loading

Currently, dual-layer tubes play a pivotal role in sectors like nuclear, oil, gas, and steam generation. Recent research focuses on enhancing energy absorption in these tubes using the spinning forming process. This thin-walled nature benefits their application as efficient energy absorbers in transportation like trains and aircraft. A novel approach integrates coarse and fine-threaded ridges between steel and aluminum layers to create a mechanical interlock using the spinning forming technique. This interlock enhances the bond through flow forming, resulting in robust dual-layer tubes. Interlayer connection strength is rigorously tested through shear tests, pre and post flow forming, indicating a significant post-flow forming enhancement. This process substantially bolsters the overall structural integrity of dual-layer tubes. In crush tests, both single-layer and dual-layer steel and aluminum tubes undergo pressing through flow forming. Comparative analysis of energy absorption parameters—specific energy and crushing percentage—reveals notable performance differences. An annealed version of the tube with an aluminum layer is also included due to prior aluminum layer failures. Among dual-layer samples, the flow formed variant with fine-threaded ribs exhibits superior energy absorption and bonding. Finite element simulation of the pressed dual-layer sample demonstrates an 8.42 % deviation between simulated and experimental energy absorption outcomes. The study highlights that tightly bonded layers result in enhanced bonding characteristics.

Design and additive manufacturing of novel hybrid lattice metamaterial for enhanced energy absorption and structural stability

In this work, a novel dual-phase metamaterial, named as “hybrid lattice metamaterial (HLM),” are designed and fabricated by combining reentrant and sea-urchin (SU) based surface-lattice (SL) structure with polyamide12 (PA12) material via material extrusion (MEX) process. Four different designs with varying reentrant truss thicknesses of 0.8 mm (H1), 1.0 mm (H2), 1.2 mm (H3), and 1.5 mm (H4) have been modified to assemble seamlessly with the empty spaces within the SL structure. Quasistatic compression tests were conducted to evaluate the deformation modes and compression characteristics. The findings from quasistatic experiments were subsequently validated using numerical simulations. The H4 metamaterial exhibited superior structural properties, with 42 % increase in stiffness and 35 % enhancement in specific energy absorption compared to only SL structure. Additionally, dynamic sinusoidal compression tests were conducted to evaluate the dynamic elastic ratio (DER), hysteresis work and viscoelastic properties using the tan δ. The H4 metamaterial outperformed the SL in all dynamic properties, with a 50 % increase in elastic modulus and 36 % increase in hysteresis work. This study shows metamaterial properties can be tailored for specific requirements. SL structure facilitate elastic recovery, while H4 metamaterials offer superior energy absorption and stability, making it well-suited for protective equipment and impact-resistant components.

Comprehensive performance evaluation of HGM hybrid modified resins: Excellent high resistivity terahertz shielding and impact energy absorption properties

AbstractThe development of electronic fuze has placed higher demands on encapsulation resins, which are required to provide not only insulation and protection, but also higher impact resistance and good electromagnetic shielding performance. A new composite material consisting of hollow glass microspheres (HGM) and modified epoxy resin was developed. This material exhibits significant electromagnetic shielding capabilities for terahertz (THz) waves, as well as superior impact energy absorption properties. Bisphenol A‐type epoxy resin (E‐44) was modified using Al(OH)3, red phosphorus, carbon black, and SiO2, and the material properties were optimized by adjusting the HGM content. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness and impact energy absorption of the composite material in the THz band were comprehensively tested using THz time‐domain spectroscopy and split Hopkinson pressure bar testing systems. Additionally, a comprehensive evaluation of the mechanical and dielectric properties, thermal conductivity, and thermal stability of the material was conducted. The results showed that the electromagnetic shielding effect of 60 vol.% HGM hybrid‐modified resins was the best, reaching 43.78 dB. The 20 vol.% HGM hybrid‐modified resins not only has a specific absorption energy of 18.51 J/cm3, but also has the best overall performance. This work has advanced the design and development of multifunctional and impact‐resistant potting epoxy resins.

Mechanical Characteristics of Multi-Level 3D-Printed Silicone Foams.

Three-dimensional-printed silicone rubber foams, with their designable and highly ordered pore structures, have shown exceptional potential for engineering applications, particularly in areas requiring energy absorption and cushioning. However, optimizing the mechanical properties of these foams through structural design remains a significant challenge. This study addresses this challenge by formulating the research question: How do different 3D-printed topologies and printing parameters affect the mechanical properties of silicone rubber foams, and how can we design a novel topological structure? To answer this, we explored the mechanical behavior of two common structures-simple cubic (SC) and face-centered tetragonal (FCT)-by varying printing parameters such as filament spacing, filament diameter, and layer height. Furthermore, we proposed a novel two-level 3D-printed structure, combining SC and FCT configurations to enhance performance. The results demonstrated that the two-level SC-SC structure exhibited a specific energy absorption of 8.2 to 21.0 times greater than the SC structure and 2.3 to 7.2 times greater than the FCT structure. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the design of 3D-printed silicone rubber foams, offering a promising approach to developing advanced cushioning materials with superior energy absorption capabilities.

Effect of shear span-to-depth ratio on flexural and fracture behaviors of reinforced UHPMC beams based on four-point bending test and acoustic emission monitoring

Ultra-high performance manufactured sand concrete (UHPMC), using manufactured sand (MS) as aggregate, belongs to a brand-new ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). Better understanding the failure behavior of UHPMC beams reinforced with steel reinforcement bars is crucial in structural design. This study investigates the effects of different shear span-to-depth ratios (λ = 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0) on the failure modes, mid-span deflection, concrete and rebar strain, flexural toughness, initial cracking load, ultimate load, energy dissipation capacity, and crack propagation patterns based on four-point bending tests for totally twelve reinforced UHPMC beams. Meanwhile, acoustic emission (AE) monitoring is used to evaluate corresponding fracture characteristics. Results reveal that an increase in shear span-to-depth ratio leads to a significant increase in mid-span strain and better ductility but lower equivalent stiffness. The maximum strain of specimen with λ = 1.2 is 24.8 % lower than that with λ = 2.0, and specimen with λ = 1.6 exhibits 22.3 % greater equivalent stiffness than that with λ = 2.0. Beams with larger shear span-to-depth ratios demonstrate superior ductility and energy absorption capacity, specimen with λ = 2.0 showing a ductility factor 2.85 times higher than that with λ = 1.2. The presence of MS significantly improves initial cracking load by 26.9 %, ultimate load by 4.5 %, and energy dissipation capacity by 37 %. MS also enhances toughness and delays crack propagation in the early stages. This effect can make the fracture transform into more rapid energy release in the later stages, indicating that MS could alter crack propagation patterns, forcing cracks to propagate along paths with greater resistance to crack propagation. These conclusions can offer insights for the safer and economical design and application of UHPMC beams, especially the balance among shear span-to-depth ratio, MS and mechanical performance in the environmentally friendly structures design and failure prevention process.

Biomimetic 3D printing: Cocoon-like silk reinforcements from discarded cocoons for hemispherical composite components

Silkworm cocoons serve as the primary raw material for silk fabric production. However, due to stringent quality requirements for silk products, only high-quality cocoons are selected, while defective ones such as spotted cocoons are relegated to low-value textile fillers or direct landfilling. To enhance the value of discarded cocoons, this study combines continuous fiber 3D printing technology with traditional molding techniques, using discarded cocoons as raw materials to create high-performance hemispherical composite materials that mimic the natural structure of silkworm cocoons, thereby achieving efficient resource reuse. Additionally, a novel random path algorithm for 3D printing was developed to address the issue of uneven fiber orientation in the manufacturing of curved composite materials. The vacuum bag molding method was utilized to combine silk-like hemispherical fiber-reinforced bodies with resin, producing hemispherical composites with a high fiber content. Extensive tensile testing on longitudinally and laterally cut cocoon fiber samples was conducted to explore the mechanical behavior in various directions, revealing unique anisotropic properties. Further tensile testing on homemade silk yarn confirmed the material's high strength and excellent toughness. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated good interfacial bonding between the silk and bio-based epoxy resin within the composites. Compression tests indicated a maximum load capacity of 6717 N, showcasing exceptional impact resistance and superior energy absorption in projectile impact tests. Even under extreme loads, the hemispherical composites maintained a substantial intact area, highlighting their structural integrity advantages. This study not only breathes new life into industrial waste but also provides a new direction for the manufacturing sector to achieve a greener and more sustainable development path.

Crashworthiness Performance and Multi-Objective Optimization of Bi-Directional Corrugated Tubes under Quasi-Static Axial Crushing.

Longitudinal corrugated tubes (LCTs) exhibit stable platform force under axial compression but have low specific energy absorption. Conversely, circumferential corrugated tubes (CCTs) offer higher specific energy absorption but with unstable platform force. To overcome these limitations, this paper introduces a novel bi-directional corrugated tube (BCT) that amalgamates the strengths of both the CCT and LCT while mitigating their weaknesses. The BCT is formed by rolling a bi-directional corrugated structure into a circular tubular form. Numerical simulations of the BCT closely align with experimental results. The study further examines the influence of discrete parameters on the BCT's performance through simulations and identifies the tube's optimal design using the integral entropy TOPSIS method. A full factorial experimental approach is then employed to investigate the impact of radial amplitude, axial amplitude, and neutral surface diameter on the crushing behavior of the BCT, comparing it with the CCT and LCT. The results reveal that increasing Ai enhances the axial resistance of the structure, while increasing Aj reduces the buckling effect, resulting in a higher specific energy absorption and lower ultimate load capacity for the BCT compared to the CCT and LCT. A simultaneous multi-objective optimization of the CCT, LCT, and BCT confirms that the BCT offers superior specific energy absorption and ultimate load capacity. The optimal configuration parameters for the BCT have been determined, providing significant insights for practical applications in crashworthiness engineering.

Compressive Properties and Energy Absorption Characteristics of Co-Continuous Interlocking PDMS/PLA Lattice Composites.

Co-continuous interlocking lattice structures usually present superior compressive properties and energy absorption characteristics. In this study, co-continuous interlocking polydimethylsiloxane/polylactic acid (PDMS/PLA) lattice composites were designed with different strut diameters, and successfully manufactured by combining the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique and the infiltration method. This fabrication method can realize the change and control of structure parameters. The effects of the strut diameter on the compressive properties and energy absorption behavior of PDMS/PLA lattice composites were investigated by using quasi-static compression tests. The compressive properties of the co-continuous interlocking PDMS/PLA lattice composites can be adjusted in a narrow density range by a linear correlation. The energy absorption density of the co-continuous interlocking PDMS/PLA lattice composites increases with the increase in the PLA strut diameter and presents a higher efficiency peak and wider plateau region. The PLA lattice acts as a skeleton and plays an important role in bearing the compressive load and in energy absorption. The indexes of the compressive properties/energy absorption characteristics and PLA volume fraction of co-continuous interlocking PDMS/PLA lattice composites show linear relationships in logarithmic coordinates. The effect of the PLA volume fraction increasing on the plateau stress is more sensitive than the compressive strength and energy absorption density.

Investigating the Mechanical Behavior and Energy Absorption Characteristics of Empty and Foam-Filled Glass/Epoxy Composite Sections under Lateral Indentation.

In this study, the crashworthiness behavior and energy absorption capacity of composite tubes under lateral indentation by steel rods aligned parallel to the specimen axis are investigated using experimental methods. Key parameters such as tube diameter, length, wall thickness, and indenter diameter are systematically examined and compared. Additionally, the influence of polyurethane foam fillers on damage modes and energy absorption capacity is rigorously analyzed. Contrary to conventional findings, smaller diameter specimens filled with foam demonstrate superior energy absorption compared to their larger counterparts, primarily due to enhanced compression of the foam volume. Experimental results reveal a complex interplay of damage mechanisms in composite specimens, including matrix cracking, fiber breakage, foam crushing, foam densification, foam fracture, and debonding of composite layers, all contributing to enhanced energy absorption. Increased tube thickness, length, and indenter diameter, alongside decreased tube diameter, are correlated with higher contact forces and improved energy absorption. Smoother shell fractures are promoted, and overall energy absorption capabilities are enhanced by the presence of foam fillers. This investigation provides valuable insights into the structural response and crashworthiness of composite tubes, which is essential for optimizing their design across various engineering applications.

Crashworthiness analysis of bio-inspired hierarchical multi-cell circular tubes under axial crushing

Drawing inspiration from nature’s hierarchical organization, we propose a novel bio-inspired hierarchical multi-cellular circular tubes (BHMC) with a fractal structure. Using an experimentally validated LS-DYNA finite element model, we investigated the impact resistance of this structure under axial loading. Numerical analysis was conducted to explore the energy absorption performance of BHMC tubes with varying numbers of branches, fractal orders, and tube masses. The numerical findings indicate that specific energy absorption (SEA) increases with higher numbers of fractal orders. Specifically, the SEA of 2nd order BHMC tubes surpasses that of conventional multicellular circular and single-layer tubes by approximately 35.07% and 17.10%, respectively. Optimal performance is achieved with the proposed structure featuring tree branching (N = 6) and 2nd order fractal characteristics, yielding the highest specific absorption energy across different parameters. These results offer valuable insights for designing multicellular bilayer tubes with superior energy absorption efficiency, providing an effective guideline for structural optimization.

Relationship between elastic properties and energy absorption of different types of aramid and UHMWPE composites used in ballistic protection

This study aimed to analyse composite materials' mechanical and elastic properties from various aramid and ultra-high- molecular-weight polyethylene fabrics used in ballistic armour materials. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to examine the correlations between the energy absorption data acquired from the low-velocity impact, dynamic compressive, and ballistic impact V50 tests performed in our prior investigations and the tensile test outcomes of these composites. The research revealed a notable correlation between Poisson's ratio, elasticity modulus values, and energy absorption capability. The composite material with the lowest Poisson ratio exhibited superior energy absorption performance in all tests. Composites reinforced with unidirectional textiles have attracted attention due to their low Poisson ratio and high elasticity modulus values, resulting in exceptional energy absorption capability.

Experimental investigations into 3D printed hybrid auxetic structures for load-bearing and energy absorption applications

Auxetic structures possess negative Poisson’s ratio due to their unique geometrical configuration. It also offers enhanced indentation resistance, superior energy absorption capacity, excellent impact resistance, higher compressive strength, and other exceptional mechanical properties. In this study, multiple hybrid auxetic structures of three novel geometries have been designed by considering different sets of geometric parameters to numerically investigate the mechanical behaviors of the structures. The energy absorption properties and Poisson’s ratio of the developed hybrid auxetic structures have been measured under quasi-static compressive and bending loads. The numerically optimized structures from each of the three different geometries have been fabricated of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene using fused deposition modeling. Additionally, the simulated results have been experimentally validated. The validation studies have shown close agreement of their performances with the simulated results. Finally, comparative analyses of energy absorption performances have also been performed to select the most suitable structure for impact-resistant applications. Moreover, it has been observed that structure-2 exhibits superior performance in terms of maximum load-bearing capacity of 3395 N. On the other hand, structure-3 has the maximum energy absorption capacity of 51902 N.mm which is 4.85% higher than structure-1 and structure-2. Similarly, three-point bending test results have revealed that structure-2 performs better in terms of energy absorption capacity (10864 N.mm). Besides this, the effects of loading direction on deformation patterns and mechanical responses of the structures have been observed due to the changes in deformation mechanism. The high-velocity (8 m.s−1) impact test results have also confirmed the suitability of structure-2 for crashworthiness applications. The comparative findings derived from this study contribute significantly in developing lightweight, energy-absorbent, and impact-resistant auxetic core-sandwiched structures for civil, defense, and automobile sectors.

Bending performance and failure mechanism of CFRP/Al hat-shaped thin-walled hybrid beams

Hat-shaped beams played an important role in the body load-bearing structure, such as B-pillar. Fiber metal laminates possessed great advantages of excellent stiffness/strength, high damage tolerance and lightweight effect. In order to improve the catastrophic damage mode of carbon fiber, the hat-shape thin-walled hybrid beams consisting of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRP) prepreg and aluminum (Al) sheet were proposed and fabricated by hot-pressing molding. The effects of carbon fiber layer numbers, CFRP/Al stacking sequence, and the CFRP layup orientation on the three-point bending performance and failure mode of the hat-shaped hybrid beams were investigated. The results showed that the more CFRP layer, the better the bending performance of the hybrid hat-shaped beams. The CA-2 hat-shaped beams generated overall lateral deformation. The ACA (Al/CFRP/Al) hat-shaped beams achieved a higher CFE (ratio of average load to peak force) value and better energy absorption effect. The deformation processes of AC (Al/CFRP) and ACA stacking structures was similar, the horizontal web concave and the side walls on both sides convex. In terms of fiber lay-up orientation, ACA-OR (orthogonal) possessed superior bending performance and energy absorption to the ACA-UD (unidirectional) hybrid beams. Furthermore, the failure mechanism of the ACA hybrid beams was analyzed and the cross-sectional microstructure at different sections were observed by SEM. Matrix cracking, interfacial delamination, fiber fracture and metal plastic deformation were detected, which played a supporting effect and energy absorption role.

Experiment and numerical investigation on beetle elytra inspired lattice structure: Enhanced mechanical properties and customizable responses

The elytra of the ironclad beetles possess very strong and toughness performance, to protect the body from catastrophic physical damage, owing to its unique curved geometry and layered microstructure. In this paper, inspired by the elytra of ironclad beetles, a novel configuration of lattice structure (IBCC) was developed. The digital light processing (DLP) with hard-tough resin was used to fabricate the lattice structures. The compression experiment and simulation were performed to investigate the mechanical response and deformation mechanism. The response surface model (RSM) was adopted to build a forward relationship between structure parameters and mechanical properties. A numerical method was developed to inversely design structure parameters of IBCC with “target” mechanical properties using genetic algorithm. The novel lattice structure exhibits superior stiffness and energy absorption than conventional BCC (body-centered cubic) and OCT (Octet) structures, under the same relative density. For example, IBCC shows a maximum 59% improvement (at ρ¯=9.60%) of stiffness, and a maximum 25% improvement (at ρ¯=7.40%) of SEA, with respect to OCT. Besides, the stress plateau of IBCC is more stable than OCT, even at relatively large compression strain. The superior mechanical response of the IBCC lattice structure is mainly ascribed to bio-inspired topological design and interaction effects of curved rods in the “V-shaped” region. Besides, the effectiveness of the proposed inverse design method is verified by three numerical cases. The proposed bio-inspired design strategy, mechanical enhancement mechanism, and customizable method will be helpful in expanding the prospects of lattice structures in future multifunctional application fields.

Energy absorption of foam-filled TPMS-based tubular lattice structures subjected to quasi-static lateral crushing

Aluminium foam and TPMS-based tubular lattice structures (T-TLS) were of interest due to their superior energy absorption capabilities and inherent lightweight characteristics. However, their synergistic functionality in a composite form remained unexplored. In pursuit of augmenting the crashworthiness characteristics, aluminum foam was filled into T-TLS to form foam-filled T-TLS. FE models were established and validated using lateral crushing experiments. Foam-filled T-TLS exhibited higher energy absorption (EA) compared to the sum of empty T-TLS and foam filler, primarily attributed to the interaction between T-TLS and foam filler. Compared to single circular filled tubes (SCFT) with the same outer sizes and mass, foam-filled T-TLS revealed markedly enhanced crashworthiness, with EA and SEA values being 3.5–3.9 times and 4.0–4.7 times that of SCFT, respectively. Subsequently, parametric investigations underscored the evident influences of relative densities of T-TLS and foam filler, tube thickness and diameter on crashworthiness of foam-filled T-TLS. Finally, a multi-objective optimization was performed to derive optimized configurations by using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) and radial basis function (RBF) metamodels. In comparison with the baseline designs, the optimal results demonstrated significant enhancements in crashworthiness, with SEA increasing by 173.3 to 206.6 %. The present work provided a new paradigm in the design and development of advanced energy absorbers characterized by high-efficiency energy dissipation under lateral impact scenarios.

Mechanical properties of 3D continuous CFRP composite graded auxetic structures

A novel type of petal-like linear/linear symmetrical gradient auxetic structures with multi-stage deformation ability was designed and fabricated by using lightweight and high strength continuous carbon fiber reinforced composites to avoid the cliff-like stress drops caused by fiber fractures. The mechanical response, deformation mode and energy absorption capacity of the structures under quasi-static compression and low-speed impact loads were investigated by using finite element method in combination with experiments. The outcomes revealed that, through appropriate structural design, these auxetic structures made from fiber reinforced composites could also exhibit a stress plateau stage. Moreover, the gradient design enhanced the equivalent compression modulus of structures formed with smaller angles, while concurrently suppressing the buckling failure in structures with larger angles, thereby facilitating the predictability of structural failure. Besides, in comparison to traditional multicellular structures, the composite gradient petal-like structures exhibit superior energy absorption characteristics, thus rendering them promising candidates for applications in the construction, marine, and wind power industries.