Energy Absorption of Cellular Honeycombs with Various Cell Angles under In-Plane Compressive Loading

This study examines energy absorption capabilities of cellular honeycombs subjected to in-plane compression. ABAQUS non-linear finite element analysis is used and cellular honeycombs with different cell angles are considered. Simulation results are validated against previously published results for 30° cellular honeycombs. For various cell angles, comparison of simulation results for full size honeycombs and their single cell analogs suggest that the energy absorption can be accurately determined using the single cell model. Results indicate that for cells with equal wall length, the specific energy absorption capability increases with increasing cellular honeycomb angle. A detailed analysis of cell deformation for different honeycombs and an insight of the underlying physics behind the differences in energy absorption capabilities observed for the different honeycombs are also presented. Nomenclature θ = cell angle - the angle between inclined cell wall and horizontal direction th = width of the vertical wall tl = width of the inclined wall h = height of the vertical wall l = length of the inclined wall b = cell depth σ = stress E = Young’s modulus α = ratio of pre-yield modulus to post-yield modulus