An energy-absorbing filling material, an energy-absorbing structure and a preparation method
By using an octahedral cell structure and a flexible interconnected energy-absorbing filling material, the applicability and breakage problems of traditional energy-absorbing materials are solved, achieving multi-level buffering and efficient energy absorption.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHANGSHA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
Traditional energy-absorbing filler materials have fixed dimensions, making them unsuitable for energy-absorbing structures of different shapes. Furthermore, the rigid connections between cells can easily lead to premature breakage, resulting in a decrease in energy absorption capacity.
An octahedral cell structure is adopted, and an energy-absorbing filling material is prepared by additive manufacturing technology. The cells are connected flexibly and filled with foam to form a multi-level buffer structure.
This has improved the size adaptability and energy absorption effect of the energy-absorbing filler material, prevented structural fracture, and enhanced energy absorption effect and load-bearing capacity.
Smart Images
Figure CN116447264B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of energy-absorbing materials technology, and in particular to an energy-absorbing filler material, an energy-absorbing structure, and a preparation method thereof. Background Technology
[0002] When a vehicle collides, the energy is dissipated by the frontal structures within the body-in-white, such as the front bumper beams, energy-absorbing boxes, and front longitudinal beams. To improve energy absorption efficiency, these structures are typically filled with energy-absorbing materials. Traditional energy-absorbing materials have fixed dimensions once manufactured, making it impossible to adjust their size to suit the shape of different energy-absorbing structures. Furthermore, energy-absorbing boxes and similar structures are complex and irregularly shaped, requiring customized energy-absorbing materials of specific shapes and sizes, thus limiting their applicability. Additionally, the cells of traditional filler structures are rigidly connected, leading to layer-by-layer crushing during collision deformation, which can result in premature structural fracture and failure, thus reducing energy absorption capacity.
[0003] For example, the invention patent with publication number CN113339440A discloses a multidirectional load-bearing honeycomb buffer energy-absorbing structure with a fullerene-like structure. This structure is composed of multiple honeycomb cells arranged in an array along the X, Y, and Z axes, with the edges of adjacent fullerene-like honeycomb cells completely overlapping. In other words, adjacent honeycomb cells are rigidly connected, and their dimensions are fixed after fabrication. They need to be customized according to the shape of the energy-absorbing box. During collision deformation, they primarily collapse layer by layer, making them prone to premature structural fracture and failure, leading to a decrease in energy absorption capacity. Summary of the Invention
[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an energy-absorbing filling material that varies with the external dimensions of the energy-absorbing structure and has a better energy-absorbing effect. In addition, an energy-absorbing structure and a preparation method are also provided, and the specific technical solutions are as follows.
[0005] An energy-absorbing filling material includes octahedral cells, wherein each octahedral cell is composed of 12 rods forming a regular octahedral structure; each octahedral cell includes 6 vertices, and each vertices includes four adjacent rods; the energy-absorbing filling material includes a first cell layer and a second cell layer arranged alternately along the Z-axis.
[0006] The first cell layer includes a first cell column and a second cell column arranged alternately along the X-axis;
[0007] The first cell column includes multiple first octahedral cells arranged along the Y-axis, with the vertices of adjacent first octahedral cells interlocking with each other;
[0008] The second cell column includes a plurality of second octahedral cells arranged along the Y-axis. The vertex of the second octahedral cell is engaged with the vertex of the first octahedral cell, and there is a first octahedral cell between adjacent second octahedral cells.
[0009] The second cell layer includes a plurality of arrayed third octahedral cells, the vertices of which are engaged with the vertices of the first octahedral cells, and adjacent third octahedral cells are spaced apart by one first octahedral cell.
[0010] Furthermore, in the first cell column, adjacent first octahedral cells are 45° apart in the Y-axis direction.
[0011] Furthermore, in the first cell layer, the adjacent first octahedral cells and second octahedral cells are 45° apart in the X-axis direction.
[0012] Furthermore, the adjacent third octahedral cell is 45° away from the first octahedral cell in the Z-axis direction.
[0013] Furthermore, when the vertices of adjacent octahedral cells are engaged, the four rods at the vertices of one octahedral cell are inserted into the gaps between the adjacent rods at the vertices of another octahedral cell and then fixed at a single point.
[0014] Furthermore, the length of the rod is 15mm and the diameter is 2mm.
[0015] Furthermore, the energy-absorbing filler material is prepared using additive manufacturing technology.
[0016] An energy-absorbing structure includes a shell, a foam, and an energy-absorbing filler material as described in any of the preceding claims; the energy-absorbing filler material is filled into the shell, and the foam is filled into the space between the shell and the energy-absorbing filler material.
[0017] A method for preparing the energy-absorbing structure described above includes:
[0018] The energy-absorbing filling material is filled into the shell, and the gap between each octahedral cell varies with the shape of the shell, so that the outer octahedral cell contacts the inner wall of the shell.
[0019] Foam is filled into the shell, filling the space between the shell and the energy-absorbing filling material, as well as the space inside the octahedral cell.
[0020] Beneficial effects: 1. The energy-absorbing filling material provided by the present invention can be compressed and stretched according to the changes in the external dimensions of the energy-absorbing structure. It can fill the outer shell of energy-absorbing structures of different sizes, as well as the energy-absorbing shell structure with variable cross-section, and has a wide range of applications.
[0021] 2. The energy-absorbing filling material provided by the present invention uses flexible connections between cells to uniformly buffer impact energy from multiple directions, avoid premature structural fracture and failure due to layer-by-layer crushing, and improve the energy absorption effect.
[0022] 3. The energy-absorbing structure provided by the present invention uses foam to fill the space between the shell and the energy-absorbing filling material, which can not only ensure that the energy-absorbing filling material is firmly in contact with the inner wall of the shell, but also form a multi-level buffer structure to improve the load-bearing capacity and energy absorption effect. Attached Figure Description
[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an energy-absorbing filling material;
[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the first cell layer;
[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the second cell layer;
[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an octahedral cell.
[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between two adjacent octahedral cells;
[0029] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an energy-absorbing structure;
[0030] Figure 7 It is an energy-absorbing structure with a cross-sectional dimension of 61×61mm;
[0031] Figure 8 It is an energy-absorbing structure with a cross-sectional dimension of 66.7×66.7mm;
[0032] Figure 9 It is an energy-absorbing structure with a cross-sectional dimension of 72×72mm;
[0033] Figure 10 This is a structural schematic diagram of an irregular front longitudinal beam.
[0034] Reference numerals: 1. First cell layer; 2. Second cell layer; 3. First cell column; 4. Second cell column; 5. First octahedral cell; 6. Second octahedral cell; 7. Third octahedral cell; 8. Rod; 9. Shell; 10. Foam; 11. Energy-absorbing filler material. Detailed Implementation
[0035] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0036] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.
[0037] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0038] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.
[0039] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0040] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.
[0041] Example 1
[0042] This embodiment provides an energy-absorbing filling material, as shown in the reference. Figure 1 As shown, it comprises three first cell layers 1 and two second cell layers 2, with the first cell layers 1 and the second cell layers 2 arranged alternately along the Z-axis. (Refer to...) Figure 2 As shown, the first cell layer 1 includes three columns of first cell cells 3 and two columns of second cell cells 4, which are arranged alternately along the X-axis. The first cell column 3 includes five first octahedral cells 5 arranged along the Y-axis, with the vertices of adjacent first octahedral cells 5 interlocking. The second cell column 4 includes three second octahedral cells 6 arranged along the Y-axis, with the vertices of the second octahedral cells 6 interlocking with the vertices of the first octahedral cells 5, and each adjacent second octahedral cell 6 is separated by one first octahedral cell 5. Figure 2 In the first cell column 3, the first first octahedral cell 5 and the third first octahedral cell 5 are respectively connected to the second octahedral cell 6, while the second first octahedral cell 5 is not connected to the second octahedral cell 6.
[0043] Reference Figure 3 As shown, the second cell layer 2 includes a plurality of arrayed third octahedral cells 7, the vertices of the third octahedral cells 7 are engaged with the vertices of the first octahedral cells 5, and there is a first octahedral cell 5 between adjacent third octahedral cells 7.
[0044] It should be noted that the above is only an example in this embodiment. In other embodiments, the number of cell layers, the number of cell columns, and the number of octahedral cells can be designed according to actual needs.
[0045] The structures of the first octahedral cell 5, the second octahedral cell 6, and the third octahedral cell 7 are all identical, differing only in the angle of the octahedral cell elements at different positions. Specifically, refer to... Figure 4 As shown, each octahedral cell is composed of 12 rods 8 with a length of 15 mm and a diameter of 2 mm as edges, forming a regular octahedral structure. Each face is formed by three rods 8 forming an equilateral triangle and has six vertices. Each vertex includes four adjacent rods 8 fixed at a point.
[0046] Specifically, in the first cell column 3, adjacent first octahedral cells 5 differ by 45° in the Y-axis direction. That is, refer to... Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, in the first cell column 3, the second first octahedral cell 5 rotates 45° clockwise or counterclockwise around the line connecting the two diagonals along the Y-axis and then engages with the first first octahedral cell 5. In the first cell layer 1, adjacent first octahedral cells 5 and second octahedral cells 6 differ by 45° along the X-axis. That is, refer to... Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the first second octahedral cell 6 in the second cell column 4 rotates 45° clockwise or counterclockwise around the line connecting the two diagonals along the X-axis and then engages with the first first octahedral cell 5 in the first cell column 3. In each cell layer, the adjacent third octahedral cell 7 differs from the first octahedral cell 5 by 45° along the Z-axis. Figure 2 and Figure 5 The third cell column rotates 45° counterclockwise or clockwise around the two diagonal lines in the Z-axis direction and then engages with the first octahedral cell 5.
[0047] Specifically, refer to Figure 5 As shown, the interlocking method between adjacent octahedral cells is as follows: the four rods 8 at the vertex of one octahedral cell are respectively inserted into the gaps between the adjacent rods 8 at the vertex of another octahedral cell and then fixed at one point.
[0048] It should be noted that the energy-absorbing filler material 11 provided in this embodiment can be prepared by additive manufacturing.
[0049] The energy-absorbing filling material 11 provided in this embodiment can constrain adjacent octahedral cells while allowing for some free movement. The spacing between adjacent octahedral cells can be adjusted according to the size of the outer shell 9, allowing for compression and elongation. This enables the filling of energy-absorbing structures of different sizes, specifications, and cross-sections, making it widely applicable. Furthermore, each octahedral cell and the overall energy-absorbing filling material 11 possesses a centrally symmetrical structure, capable of withstanding loads from different directions. The flexible connection between adjacent octahedral units prevents premature structural fracture and failure due to layer-by-layer crushing during compression, ensuring stable deformation and improving energy absorption.
[0050] Example 2
[0051] Reference Figure 6 As shown, this embodiment provides an energy-absorbing structure, which includes a shell, a foam 10, and an energy-absorbing filling material 11 described in Embodiment 1. The energy-absorbing filling material 11 is filled into the shell. When filling the energy-absorbing filling material 11, the spacing between the octahedral cells can be adjusted according to the size of the shell 9, thereby adapting to shells 9 of different sizes. For example... Figure 7 The energy-absorbing structure shown has a cross-sectional dimension of 61×61mm; Figure 8 The energy-absorbing structure shown has a cross-sectional dimension of 66.7 × 66.7 mm; Figure 9 The energy-absorbing structure shown has a cross-sectional dimension of 72×72mm; the size of the new energy filling material can be increased or decreased within a certain range to adapt to the above-mentioned energy-absorbing structures of different sizes. It can also adapt to shells 9 with variable cross-sections, for example... Figure 10 The irregular front longitudinal beam structure shown allows for flexible changes in the shape and size of the energy-absorbing filling material 11, which also exhibits good ductility. Despite the irregular shape of the front longitudinal beam, the energy-absorbing filling material 11 can still adhere to the inner wall of the beam. It should be noted that this energy-absorbing structure can be an energy-absorbing box, a front bumper beam, a front longitudinal beam, or other collision energy-absorbing structures.
[0052] Continue to refer to Figure 6 As shown, the expanding foam 10 fills the space between the shell and the energy-absorbing filling material 11. On the one hand, the expanding foam 10 can fully fill the remaining space inside the shell, allowing the energy-absorbing filling material 11 to be in tight contact with the inner wall of the shell, effectively preventing the energy-absorbing filling material 11 from loosening due to slight impact. On the other hand, it makes the energy-absorbing structure form a multi-buffered structure. When a collision occurs, the outer shell first buffers part of the energy, then the internal octahedral cells and the expanding foam 10 squeeze each other to buffer part of the energy, and finally the compression deformation of the single-cell structure of the octahedral cells buffers the remaining energy, improving the load-bearing capacity and energy absorption effect.
[0053] Example 3
[0054] This embodiment provides a method for preparing the energy-absorbing structure described in Example 2, comprising the following steps:
[0055] The energy-absorbing filling material 11 is filled into the shell, and the gap between each octahedral cell varies with the shape of the shell, so that the outer octahedral cell contacts the inner wall of the shell.
[0056] Foam 10 is filled into the shell so that it fills the space between the shell and the energy-absorbing filling material 11, as well as the space inside the octahedral cell.
[0057] The preparation method provided in this embodiment utilizes foam 10 to fill the remaining space inside the shell, enabling the energy-absorbing filling material 11 to make firm contact with the inner wall of the shell, effectively preventing the energy-absorbing filling material 11 from loosening due to slight impact; and forming a multi-buffered structure for the energy-absorbing structure, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity and energy absorption effect.
[0058] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.
[0059] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for preparing an energy-absorbing structure, characterized in that, The energy-absorbing structure includes a shell, a foam, and an energy-absorbing filler material; the energy-absorbing filler material is filled into the shell, and the foam is filled into the space between the shell and the energy-absorbing filler material. The energy-absorbing filling material includes octahedral cells, each octahedral cell consisting of 12 rods forming a regular octahedral structure; each octahedral cell includes 6 vertices, each vertex including four adjacent rods; the energy-absorbing filling material includes a first cell layer and a second cell layer arranged alternately along the Z-axis. The first cell layer includes a first cell column and a second cell column arranged alternately along the X-axis; The first cell column includes multiple first octahedral cells arranged along the Y-axis, with the vertices of adjacent first octahedral cells interlocking with each other; The second cell column includes a plurality of second octahedral cells arranged along the Y-axis. The vertex of the second octahedral cell is engaged with the vertex of the first octahedral cell, and there is a first octahedral cell between adjacent second octahedral cells. The second cell layer includes a plurality of arrayed third octahedral cells, the vertices of which are engaged with the vertices of the first octahedral cells, and adjacent third octahedral cells are spaced apart by one first octahedral cell. In the first cell column, adjacent first octahedral cells are 45° apart in the Y-axis direction; in the first cell layer, adjacent first octahedral cells and second octahedral cells are 45° apart in the X-axis direction; adjacent third octahedral cells and first octahedral cells are 45° apart in the Z-axis direction. When the vertices of adjacent octahedral cells are engaged, the four rods at the vertices of one octahedral cell are inserted into the gaps between the adjacent rods at the vertices of another octahedral cell and then fixed at a single point. The preparation method includes: The energy-absorbing filling material is filled into the shell, and the gap between each octahedral cell varies with the shape of the shell, so that the outer octahedral cell contacts the inner wall of the shell. Foam is filled into the shell, filling the space between the shell and the energy-absorbing filling material, as well as the space inside the octahedral cell, thereby ensuring a tight contact between the energy-absorbing filling material and the inner wall of the shell.
2. The method for preparing an energy-absorbing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rod is 15mm long and 2mm in diameter.
3. The method for preparing an energy-absorbing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy-absorbing filler material is prepared using additive manufacturing technology.