Geometric design, deformation mode, and energy absorption of patterned thin-walled structures

Thin-walled structures have been widely applied as energy absorption devices due to their lightweight, high energy dissipating capability through large deformation, and low cost. The mechanical behavior of a structure is mainly determined by its deformation mode, which is expected to have a low initial peak force, steady and large deformation progress and most importantly a high energy absorption per unit mass. As a result, thin-walled structures with specifically designed patterns pre-folded on the surfaces have been proposed and extensively studied, by utilizing the patterns to trigger pre-determined deformation modes so as to improve the energy absorption capacity. In this paper, the geometric design, deformation mode and mechanism, and energy absorption of the patterned structures in the form of tubes, foldcores, and metamaterials are reviewed. The main achievements and limitations of the existing works are summarized, followed by suggestions of future research challenges.