Mechanical Analysis and Multi-Objective Optimization of Origami-Inspired Tree-Shaped Thin-Walled Structures Under Axial Impacts

Rail vehicles, frequently utilized as a heavy-duty, high-speed means of transportation, have been observed to result in substantial casualties and economic losses in the event of accidents. Energy-absorbing structures are critical to achieving passive safety, effectively absorbing and dissipating energy. The present study utilizes numerical simulation to assess the performance of origami-inspired tree-shaped structures (OTSs) under diverse surface configurations. OTSs offer significant advantages in reducing <i>IPCF</i> without substantially compromising other performance metrics. This experimental approach is employed to validate the efficacy of a finite element model. A multi-criteria decision-making method integrates MOEA/D-DAE and TOPSIS. This integrated approach is employed to identify optimal structures. The validity of the method was established through a comparison of the predicted results with the outcomes of finite element analysis. The findings demonstrated a 31.2% reduction in <i>IPCF</i>, a 3.6% increase in <i>SEA</i>, and a 10.4% rise in <i>ULC</i>. The optimized <i>IPCF</i> is 4.9919 kN, <i>SEA</i> is 12.316 kJ/kg. The collective results indicate the efficacy of the method as a tool for analyzing and optimizing energy-absorbing structures.