Crash Energy Absorption of Crash Box based on Origami Structure

Abstract

In the crash collision, the vehicle energy absorbers play an important role in the energy absorbed performance. Because vehicle energy absorbers are hollow columns by weight reduction, they are easily bent. To prevent bending, beads such as notch are placed properly on the column. However, such beads make the reaction force smaller and the collision energy absorption performance decreases. From the point of Origami structure, a column called Reversed Spiral Origami Structure (RSO) has been developed which solves the defects of easily bending and low energy absorption performance. However, for RSO with the same thickness of conventional energy absorbers, the manufacturing cost of hydroforming in the existing technology is too expensive to be applied in real vehicle structure. Here we investigate a new Origami structure, named Flange Polygonal Origami Structure (FPO), and apply for the crash box of truck body. And we show the superiority of this new structure and this new structure can be developed cheaply by new manufacturing technique.