Impact performance of Kresling origami with large folding ratios

• Impact performance of aluminum Kresling origami is studied. • Deformation mechanism and energy absorption are clarified. • Kresling origami exhibits extremely strong impact stress attenuation efficiency. • Parameters affecting the impact performance of Kresling origami are analyzed. Kresling origami (KO) exhibits unique mechanical properties—such as controllable deformation paths, tunable stiffness, bi-stability, and excellent foldability—making it a promising candidate for energy-absorbing applications. However, its impact performance, particularly for structures with large folding ratios, remains underexplored. This study systematically investigates the deformation behavior, energy absorption capacity, and impact stress attenuation efficiency of large-folding-ratio KO under impact loading through experiments and numerical simulations. Results show that KO primarily undergoes localized bending and crease wrinkling under impact, with stiffness, boundary conditions, and impact velocity significantly affecting its deformation patterns. KO demonstrates a three-stage energy absorption process, achieving peak efficiency near densification, and maintains over 96% impact stress attenuation during the downward deformation process. KO exhibits dihedral angles of approximately 0° and 80° in its contracted and extended stable states, respectively, achieving a balance among high folding ratio, effective energy absorption, and minimal sheet deformation. These findings provide insights for designing compact, high-folding-ratio energy-absorbing structures for convenient storage, transportation, and aerospace applications.