Abstract:
The energy absorption characteristics of origami inspired honeycomb structures under low velocity
impact and quasi static compression loading conditions are investigated in this study. Three
configurations were examined: Origami inspired Honeycomb (OH) and Modified Origami
inspired Honeycomb (MOH) with smoothed corners. Fused deposition modeling with PETG
material was used to fabricate the structures and they were subjected to drop weight impact testing
according to ASTM D7136 standard and compression testing according to ASTM C365 standard.
Finite element analysis using Abaqus/Explicit and experimental testing revealed that the Modified
Origami-inspired Honeycomb demonstrated superior energy absorption characteristics compared
to traditional and conventional origami designs. The MOH structure exhibited a 45.9% longer
impact duration (0.0410 seconds) compared to the Traditional Honeycomb (0.0281 seconds),
indicating more efficient energy distribution. While the MOH showed a lower peak load of 15,000
N compared to TH's 33,500 N under compression, it maintained a more stable plateau load of
13,000 N versus OH's 6,500 N, suggesting improved energy absorption sustainability.
The incorporation of smoothed corners in the MOH design effectively reduced stress
concentrations and promoted more uniform deformation patterns, resulting in a 42.3% increase in
maximum deformation capacity compared to the traditional design. The study demonstrates that
geometric modifications in origami-inspired honeycomb structures can significantly enhance their
energy absorption efficiency and structural stability, although these improvements come with
increased manufacturing complexity.
These findings contribute to the development of improved impact-resistant structures and provide
insights into the relationship between geometric design parameters and energy absorption
characteristics in honeycomb structures. The research has implications for applications in
aerospace, automotive, and other industries where efficient energy absorption and impact
protection are crucial.
