Investigation of Quasi-Static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Bio-Inspired Thin-Walled Structures under Axial Crushing

Abstract This study proposes a bio-inspired thin-walled energy-absorbing structure with self-similar configurations mimicking conch shells. Through quasi-static compression and drop hammer impact tests, the energy absorption characteristics were comparatively analyzed between the bio-inspired and conventional thin-walled tubes. The results demonstrate that under quasi-static compression, the bio-inspired tubes exhibit stable progressive buckling deformation, with a 21.39% increase in mean crush force (MCF) and a 12.95% improvement in crush force efficiency (CFE). During dynamic impact conditions, the bio-inspired structures show significantly reduced peak load while achieving enhanced specific energy absorption (SEA) and mean crush force (MCF), along with a 24.61% increase in crush force efficiency (CFE) and reduced undulation of load-carrying capacity (ULC). These findings offer novel perspectives for the development of innovative passive safety devices.