Research on energy absorption characteristics of biconical snap-fit spatial self-locking thin-walled structure

The demand for high-performance energy-absorbing structures has been on the rise in various sectors such as transportation, intelligent equipment, and emergency protection. The investigation of the self-locking properties and energy-absorbing capabilities of novel structures holds significant importance. Drawing on the body shape of weightlifters and the self-locking characteristics of the mortise and tenon structure, this paper introduces a biconical snap-fit spatial self-locking thin-walled structure. This structure offers the benefits of being adjustable, easy to install rapidly, and providing all-round self-locking in space. The findings from the quasi-static compression test conducted on a singular thin-walled tube are compared with the outcomes of finite element simulation. The overall error is maintained within a 10% margin, and the experimental and simulation results demonstrate a relatively high level of consistency, thus confirming the viability of subsequent investigations into the overall structure. The spatial self-locking ability and energy absorption (EA) characteristics of the structure under uniform impact load are confirmed using the finite element method. The study examines the impact of different stacking methods and various impact speeds on EA characteristics of the structure. The findings indicate that the biconical snap-fit spatial self-locking thin-walled structure is capable of withstanding uniform impact loads from all spatial directions. The self-locking characteristics and EA are most effective when the impact direction is alpha = 0 degrees, beta = 0 degrees.