Numerical and theoretical analysis of honeycomb structure filled with circular aluminum tubes subjected to axial compression

In this study, comprehensive investigations of an innovative composited cellular structure Honeycomb cells filled with circular aluminum tubes (HFCT) are conducted by means of numerical simulation and theoretical analyses. A conventional honeycomb was modeled to calibrate the numerical model and a good agreement between numerical and experimental results was achieved. With the calibrated numerical model, extensive comparisons between mechanical performances considering the deformation modes, nominal stress and energy absorption property were carried out in terms of HFCT, conventional honeycomb, and multi-tubes. The interaction effects between internal filler and outside container of HFTC were discussed through the comparison considering representative volume elements (RVE) of three structures. In addition, obvious matching effects in terms of cell thickness were observed between the filler and container of HFCT. Afterward, a theoretical model based on the minimum energy principle which considering the basic fold element of HFCT was constructed to determine the key compression characteristics (half-wave length and nominal plateau stress). Agreement between them was found in plateau stress and geometrical description of post-deformation mode.