Crashworthiness analysis and optimization of standard and windowed multi-cell hexagonal tubes

Recently, multi-cell structures have received increased attention for crashworthiness applications due to their superior energy absorption capability. However, such were featured with high peak collapsing force (PCL) forming a serious safety concern, and this limited application vehicle structures. Accordingly, paper proposes windowed shaped cuttings as mechanism reduce the PCL of hexagonal tubes systemically investigates axial crushing different also seeks optimal design. Three configurations constructed using wall-to-wall (WTW) corner-to-corner (CTC) connection webs. Validated finite element models generated explicit code, LS-DYNA, used run crush simulations on studied The responses standard (STs), i.e., without windows, (WTs) determined compared. WTW type was found be more effective STs less favorable WTs. Design experiments (DoE), response surface methodology (RSM), multiple objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) tools employed find designs Furthermore, parametric analysis conducted uncover effects key geometrical parameters main all able slightly tubes, but reduction associated major negative implication This work provides useful insights designing suitable applications.