A Multi-Scene Adaptive Modular Lattice Energy Absorption Structure Based on a Ball-and-Choose Model

Abstract

This invention discloses a multi-scenario adaptive modular lattice energy-absorbing structure based on a ball-and-stick model, belonging to the field of energy-absorbing structure technology. The structure comprises several unit cells, each consisting of spherical energy-absorbing units and connecting units. These units are assembled using two self-locking modes: triangular stacking and rectangular stacking. Interlayer filling unit cells are adapted, and self-locking is achieved through geometric parameter matching. The spherical energy-absorbing units and connecting units can be integrally formed or separately fixed. The key dimension ratio of the unit cell is D:d:t:h=100:25:18:120, and the shell thickness T is adjustable. The materials used are 316L stainless steel, TPU, and other plastic materials. This invention achieves real-time control of mechanical properties through modular design, weakens the impact peak through discretized structure, allows for customized geometric features to adapt to complex scenarios, and enables the replacement and reuse of failed modules. It solves the problems of inconvenient control, sharp peak values, limited customization, and high cost of existing integrated energy-absorbing structures, making it suitable for various impact protection scenarios.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of energy-absorbing structure technology, specifically to a multi-scenario adaptive modular lattice energy-absorbing structure based on a ball-and-stick model. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of science and technology, large-scale engineering construction, equipment technology upgrades, and extreme environmental disturbances are becoming increasingly common, leading to a significant increase in the intensity and destructive effects of impact loads, and making protection scenarios and load environments increasingly complex. To cope with various impact disasters such as targeted weapon strikes, post-rain landslides, and construction in complex terrain, the next generation of impact-resistant devices must possess both excellent impact-resistant mechanical properties and flexible adjustment and adaptability. In existing technologies, common energy-absorbing structures mainly include honeycomb structures, foam materials, and lattice materials.

[0003] Honeycomb structure: Under out-of-plane loads, it undergoes a layer-by-layer folding mode, dissipating impact energy through membrane energy and bending energy. It has the advantages of high plateau stress and long plateau stage. However, when the impact velocity reaches about 20m / s, a sharp stress peak will appear, which can easily cause secondary damage to the protected object.

[0004] Foam materials: They have good designability and can adjust energy absorption performance by optimizing microstructure, but their mechanical properties have a limited range of control and are difficult to adjust after molding.

[0005] Lattice materials: They also have designability and can achieve multi-functional synergistic optimization, but most existing lattice materials are integrated structures, which have common problems similar to other integrated impact-resistant materials / structures.

[0006] The existing integrated impact-resistant materials / structures generally have the following room for improvement: (1) It is inconvenient to control the mechanical properties after preparation and molding: Although the integrated equipment can control the mechanical response by optimizing the parameters before preparation, the control space after molding is very small, and it is difficult to quickly adapt to the real-time changing load characteristics; (2) The impact peak needs to be weakened: The integrated equipment improves the impact resistance by enhancing the equivalent stiffness, but under strong dynamic impact load, it will produce a sharp initial stress peak, which will cause serious damage to personnel and equipment.

[0007] To address the aforementioned issues, a modular lattice energy-absorbing structure with innovative structure and adjustable performance is proposed to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a multi-scenario adaptive modular lattice energy-absorbing structure based on a ball-and-stick model to solve the problem that existing structures cannot meet current needs.

[0009] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows:

[0010] A multi-scenario adaptive modular lattice energy-absorbing structure based on a ball-and-stick model includes several unit cell structures. Each unit cell structure consists of spherical energy-absorbing units and connecting units. The spherical energy-absorbing units are used to absorb impact energy, and the connecting units are used to connect adjacent spherical energy-absorbing units. Several of the unit cell structures are assembled into a modular energy-absorbing structure through at least two self-locking stacking modes. Each stacking mode first assembles a single-layer component from the unit cell structures, and the layers are fitted together by several unit cell structures. The unit cell structures are in direct contact with each other, and the self-locking effect after assembly is achieved by matching the geometric parameters of the unit cell structures, ensuring that the self-locking state is maintained and the impact energy is dissipated when impacted. The spherical energy-absorbing units and connecting units are integrally formed structures or are separate structures that are then connected and fixed through an adaptive fixing method. The energy-absorbing structure is made of a structure with plastic deformation energy-absorbing characteristics.

[0011] In a further embodiment, the self-locking stacking mode includes triangular stacking and rectangular stacking. The triangular stacking forms a block component, and the rectangular stacking forms a chain component. The block component and the chain component can be disassembled and combined as needed to adjust the parameter design and matching method of the module.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the key dimensions of the unit cell structure satisfy the following proportional relationship: outer diameter D of the spherical energy-absorbing unit: outer diameter d of the connecting unit: offset distance t between the axis of the spherical energy-absorbing unit and the axis of the connecting unit: height difference h between the centers of two adjacent spherical energy-absorbing units = 100:25:18:120.

[0013] In a further embodiment, the spherical energy-absorbing unit is a hollow spherical structure with a shell thickness T. The shell thickness T can be adjusted as needed, and the value of T is positively correlated with the material mass and energy absorption capacity. The larger T is, the greater the material mass and the better the energy absorption effect.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the material with plastic deformation energy absorption properties includes 316L stainless steel or TPU.

[0015] In a further embodiment, when the spherical energy-absorbing unit and the connecting unit are separate structures, if the material is metal, the two are fixed by welding; if the material is non-metallic, the two are fixed by adhesive bonding.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the geometric parameter matching between the unit cell structures includes adapting the outer contour of the spherical energy-absorbing unit to the arrangement position of the connecting unit, so that the adjacent unit cell structures form a limiting fit of surface contact or line contact after assembly, thereby achieving self-locking.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the modular energy-absorbing structure reduces the initial stiffness through discretization design, and the detachable nature of the unit cell structure allows for the individual replacement of the failed module when a local module fails, while the remaining modules can be reused.

[0018] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] 1. Mechanical properties can be adjusted in real time: Through modular design, unit cell modules can be disassembled and assembled as needed, and the parameter design and matching method of the modules can be adjusted. Even after the material is prepared and formed, it can still quickly adapt to different real-time load characteristics, solving the problem of limited control after the existing integrated structure is formed.

[0020] 2. Significantly reduced impact peak: Based on the discretization design concept, the combination of unit cell structures reduces the overall initial stiffness of the material, which can effectively weaken the sharp initial stress peak under strong dynamic impact loads and reduce damage to the protected object (personnel or equipment);

[0021] 3. Flexible customization of geometric features: The modular assembly method eliminates size limitations in processing and transportation. According to the complex shape of the protected object, the geometric features can be customized by adjusting the stacking mode, the number of unit cells and the interlayer filling method to achieve precise protection.

[0022] 4. Significantly reduced usage costs: The detachable and replaceable nature of the unit cell module means that when a part of the material module fails, only the failed module needs to be replaced, and the remaining modules can be reused without the need for overall scrapping, which significantly reduces usage and maintenance costs.

[0023] 5. Strong structural stability: The self-locking stacked structure, achieved through geometric parameter matching, can remain stable under impact loads without additional fasteners. At the same time, the combination structure of the spherical energy-absorbing unit and the connecting unit itself serves as a protection point, further enhancing the impact resistance reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 These are three views of the sphere-chord module in this invention.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a diagram of triangular stacking in this invention.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a rectangular stacking diagram in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The principles and features of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The examples given are only for explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0028] Example 1: Preparation of single-cell structure

[0029] 316L stainless steel was selected as the material (metal) to prepare unit cell structures:

[0030] Spherical energy absorption unit: It adopts a hollow sphere design with an outer diameter D=100mm and a shell thickness T=18mm (basic energy absorption specifications), and is manufactured by stamping process;

[0031] Connection unit: A cylindrical rod with an outer diameter d=25mm and a length of 50mm is set according to the unit cell assembly requirements. It is manufactured by turning process.

[0032] Connection method: Due to the use of metal material, the spherical energy-absorbing unit and the connecting unit adopt a separate structure and are fixed by argon arc welding to ensure connection strength. The offset distance t between the axes of the spherical energy-absorbing unit and the connecting unit is controlled at 18mm to meet the dimensional ratio requirements. Figure 1 As shown, (Sphere-string module; Oblique view; Top view; Front view).

[0033] Example 2: Triangular Stacking (Block Component) Assembly

[0034] Single-layer assembly: Several unit cell structures prepared in Example 1 are assembled into a single-layer component in a triangular arrangement. The spherical energy-absorbing units of adjacent unit cell structures are in direct contact, and the initial positioning within the single layer is achieved by adapting the position of the connecting units.

[0035] Interlayer filling: In accordance with the requirement that the height difference between the two sphere centers is h=120mm, a small number of unit cell structures are filled between the two adjacent modules. The spherical energy-absorbing units of the filled unit cells are in contact with the spherical energy-absorbing units of the upper and lower modules respectively, and surface contact limiting is formed by geometric contour matching.

[0036] Self-locking verification: After assembly, the arc-shaped contour of the spherical energy-absorbing unit and the support position of the connecting unit form complementary limits, achieving self-locking without additional fasteners. When a simulated impact load (velocity ≤50m / s) is applied, the structure maintains its self-locking state with no relative displacement. Figure 2 As shown, (Block component; 2D expand).

[0037] Example 3: Rectangular Stack (Chain Component) Assembly

[0038] Single-layer assembly: Several unit cell structures prepared in Example 1 are assembled into a single-layer component in a rectangular arrangement. The spherical energy-absorbing units of adjacent unit cell structures are in line contact, and the connecting units are arranged in a straight line to achieve linear confinement within the single layer.

[0039] Interlayer filling: Based on the interlayer sphere center height difference of h=120mm, a unit cell structure is filled between the upper and lower rectangular single-layer components. The connecting unit of the filled unit cell forms a staggered support with the upper and lower connecting units, and the spherical energy-absorbing unit realizes interlayer contact limitation.

[0040] Self-locking verification: After assembly, the linearly arranged unit cell structure achieves self-locking through the compression and restraint of adjacent spherical energy-absorbing units and the staggered support of connecting units. Under axial impact load, the structure shows no loosening or displacement, demonstrating good self-locking stability. Figure 3 As shown, (Chain component; 1D expand).

[0041] Example 4: Performance Tuning and Failure Replacement

[0042] Mechanical property control: To improve energy absorption capacity, replace the spherical shell with a unit cell structure of thickness T=25mm (while maintaining the other dimensions in the ratio of 100:25:18:120). After reassembly, the material's energy absorption efficiency is improved by approximately 40% compared to when T=18mm. To reduce initial stiffness, the number of interlayer infill unit cells can be reduced, resulting in a reduction of approximately 30% in the peak initial impact stress.

[0043] Geometric customization: To meet the needs of curved protective surfaces, the curvature of the single-layer components stacked in triangles is adjusted. By increasing or decreasing the number of edge units, the overall structure is made into a suitable curved structure that fits the surface of the object being protected.

[0044] Failure replacement: Simulate local impact failure test. When three unit cell modules fail due to plastic deformation, the failed modules are removed and replaced with new unit cells of the same specification. After reassembly, the overall impact resistance of the structure is restored to more than 95% of the initial state, realizing reuse.

[0045] Example 5: Application of Non-metallic Materials

[0046] TPU (non-metallic material) was selected as the material to prepare unit cell structures:

[0047] Spherical energy-absorbing unit: injection molded, D=100mm, T=20mm;

[0048] Connection unit: Injection molded, d=25mm, length 60mm;

[0049] Connection method: Separate structure, fixed by bonding with polyurethane special adhesive, t=18mm;

[0050] Stacking mode: Rectangular stacking is used to form chain-like components with an interlayer h=120mm. After assembly, the self-locking effect is good, which is suitable for low-speed impact protection scenarios (impact speed ≤30m / s). No fragments are generated during the energy absorption process, resulting in higher safety.

[0051] Summarize:

[0052] I. Basic Preparation Validation (Examples 1 and 5)

[0053] Focusing on the core fabrication process of unit cell structures, covering both metallic and non-metallic plastic materials, and clarifying the feasibility of key dimensions and connection methods:

[0054] Metal material (316L stainless steel): The unit cell is prepared by stamping (spherical energy-absorbing unit) + turning (connecting unit) process, and the split structure is fixed by argon arc welding. The key dimensions strictly follow the ratio D:d:t:h=100:25:18:120, and the thickness of the basic spherical shell is T=18mm, which meets the core structure design requirements.

[0055] Non-metallic material (TPU): The unit cell component is integrally molded using injection molding process and bonded with polyurethane special adhesive. The structure has a diameter of 20mm and is suitable for low-speed impact protection scenarios, solving the safety problem (no fragmentation) of metal materials in specific scenarios.

[0056] II. Stacking Mode Verification (Examples 2 and 3)

[0057] For both self-locking stacking modes, a full-process verification was completed from single-layer assembly to interlayer filling to ensure self-locking stability:

[0058] Triangular stacking (block component): Single-layer unit cells are assembled in a triangular arrangement, with a height difference of h=120mm between layers. Self-locking is achieved through the surface contact limiting of the spherical energy-absorbing unit. There is no relative displacement under impact load of ≤50m / s, which verifies the structural stability of the block component.

[0059] Rectangular stacking (chain-like components): Single-layer unit cells are assembled in a rectangular linear arrangement, with staggered filling units between layers to form support. Self-locking is achieved through line contact of spherical energy-absorbing units and staggered limiting of connecting units. There is no loosening under axial impact, which verifies the impact resistance reliability of the chain-like components.

[0060] III. Core Performance Verification (Example 4)

[0061] Based on the key advantages of the invention, the mechanical control, geometric customization, and low-cost reuse capabilities are verified through parameter adjustment and failure simulation:

[0062] Mechanical property control: Increasing the shell thickness T to 25mm improves energy absorption efficiency by 40%; reducing the number of interlayer filling units reduces the peak initial impact stress by 30%, demonstrating the real-time adjustability of mechanical properties after molding;

[0063] Geometric feature customization: Adjust the curvature of the triangular stacked single-layer components and achieve curved protective surface adaptation by increasing or decreasing the number of edge unit cells, breaking through the geometric customization limitations of integrated structures;

[0064] Failure replacement and reuse: After simulating the failure of 3 unit cell modules, the same specification unit cells were replaced and reassembled, and the overall impact resistance was restored to more than 95% of the initial state, which verified the low-cost advantage of "partial replacement and overall reuse".

[0065] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-scenario adaptive modular lattice energy-absorbing structure based on a ball-and-stick model, characterized in that, The single cell structure is composed of a spherical energy absorption unit and a connecting unit. The spherical energy absorption unit is used for absorbing impact energy, and the connecting unit is used for connecting adjacent spherical energy absorption units. The single cell structures are assembled into a modular energy absorption structure through at least two self-locking stacking modes. The spherical energy absorption unit and the connecting unit are integrally formed or are separate structures connected and fixed through an adaptive fixing method. The key dimensions of the single cell structure satisfy the following proportional relationship: the outer diameter D of the spherical energy absorption unit: the outer diameter d of the connecting unit: the offset distance t of the axis of the spherical energy absorption unit and the connecting unit: the height difference h of the spherical centers of adjacent two layers of spherical energy absorption units = 100:25:18:

120.

2. The multi-scenario adaptive modular lattice energy-absorbing structure based on the ball-and-stick model of claim 1, wherein, The energy absorption structure is made of a material with plastic deformation energy absorption characteristics.

3. The multi-scenario adaptive modular point-matrix energy-absorption structure based on the ball-and-stick model of claim 1, wherein, The self-locking stacking mode includes a triangular stacking or a rectangular stacking.

4. The multi-scenario adaptive modular lattice energy-absorbing structure based on the ball-and-stick model of claim 1, wherein, The spherical energy absorption unit is a hollow spherical structure with a shell thickness T.

5. The multi-scenario adaptive modular point-matrix energy-absorption structure based on the ball-and-stick model of claim 2, wherein, The material with plastic deformation energy absorption characteristics includes 316L stainless steel or TPU.

6. The multi-scenario adaptive modular lattice energy-absorbing structure based on the ball-and-stick model of claim 1, wherein, When the spherical energy absorption unit and the connecting unit are separate structures, if the material is metal, they are fixed by welding.

7. The multi-scenario adaptive modular point-matrix energy-absorption structure based on the ball-and-stick model of claim 1, wherein, The geometric parameter matching between the single cell structures includes the contour of the spherical energy absorption unit and the arrangement position of the connecting unit are adapted to form a limiting fit of surface contact or line contact between adjacent single cell structures after assembly, thereby realizing self-locking.

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