Superior energy absorption performance of layered aux-hex honeycomb filled tubes.

• Novel layered aux-hex honeycomb (LAHH) filled tube (LAHHFT) structures are designed and investigated. • Aux-hex interaction and LAHH-tube interaction lead to superior energy absorption performance. • Theoretical models are carried out to describe the double interaction effect. • Deformation modes of the LAHHFT structures are recognized and theoretically interpreted. In this work, a novel layered aux-hex honeycomb (LAHH) filled tube (LAHHFT) structure is proposed and investigated. A series of LAHH and LAHHFT structures with different number of aux-hex interfaces is designed and analyzed via extensive finite element analyses (FEAs). The results indicate that the designed LAHH and LAHHFT structures possess significantly higher effective Young's modulus, mean crushing stress (MCS) and specific energy absorption (SEA) than the single honeycombs and single honeycomb filled tubes under the same relative density. Double interaction effect, i.e. aux-hex interaction and LAHH-tube interaction, contributes to the superior improvement. Quantification of the interaction effect shows that the relative improvement of the MCS and SEA due to the double interaction effect could reach up to 617% and 557% for the LAHHFT structures. Theoretical models are carried out to predict the mechanical and crushing stress properties of the proposed hybrid structures considering interaction effect, which agree well with the FEA results. Besides, the interaction also affects the deformation modes of the LAHH and LAHHFT structures, which in turn influences the energy absorption performance. Three different crushing deformation modes including global bending mode, straight folding mode and mixed deformation mode occur to the LAHHFT structures. A theoretical model is also established and provides a good explanation to the change of deformation modes. This study offers a new route and a useful guideline for the design of future high-performance light-weight materials and structures. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]