Crushing Performance Evaluation of Gradient Sierpinski Triangular Fractal Column

Thin-Walled Structures with excellent mechanical properties are the key to the protective system of the vehicle. This paper proposes a novel Sierpinski triangular fractal column with graded thickness (STFC-GT) to improve the crushing stability and energy absorption of Thin-Walled Structures. The crashworthiness of the STFC-GT is investigated through the experimental test and numerical simulation under axial crushing load. The results show that the Sierpinski triangular fractal column contributes to the energy absorption, and the graded thickness design can decrease the initial peak force. Specifically, the energy absorption of STFC-GT improves by 144.22% from 0th to 2nd. And the initial peak force of 2nd STFC-GT is 55.32% lower than that of 2nd STFC with uniform thickness. In addition, a theoretical relationship between the parameter configurations and the mean crushing force of STFC-GT are developed using the simplified super folding element theory (SSFE). The maximum error is less than 7.89% between the theoretical and numerical results. Finally, the influence of gradient types on crushing performance is investigated to determine the optimal gradient configuration and maximize the mechanical performance of the STFC. The research result provides reliable guidance for the design of a new vehicle safety protection device.