Energy absorption performance of second order hierarchical corrugated sandwich structures under quasi-static compressive loading

Abstract Sandwich structures have good energy absorption properties and are widely used in urban engineering. Still, the demand for urban construction has increased, and introducing the idea of hierarchy can lead to structures with even better properties. This study establishes a framework for predicting the mean crushing force of second-order hierarchical corrugated core sandwich panels with multi-cell configurations, employing the Simplified Super-Folding Element method. The work systematically examines the influence of panel thickness, small strut thickness, and large strut thickness on energy absorption efficiency. Finite element simulations validate the analytical model, demon-strating strong agreement between theoretical predictions and numerical results. Critical analysis reveals that core-layer strut thickness substantially impacts the energy absorption performance of second-order hierarchical configurations. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing lightweight structural designs in civil engineering applications.