Crashworthiness multi-objective optimization of the thin-walled tubes under probabilistic 3D oblique load

In a real-world loading case (e.g., car crash accidents), energy-absorbing components are subject to oblique loads at various uncertain angles. This paper aims to investigate the behavior of such components under three-dimensional (3D) oblique loads in deterministic and probabilistic loading conditions. In this way, some square tubes are tested experimentally, and results are utilized to validate numerical models. To apply the 3D oblique load, a special test setup is designed, constructed, and installed on a universal tensile testing machine. Hammersley method is employed to design sample points. ABAQUS software is used for the finite element modeling and analysis. GEvoM software is implemented for mapping design variables onto crashworthiness characteristics including energy absorption (EA) and peak crush force (PCF). Both deterministic and reliability-based robust design (RBRD) optimizations are performed, and their results are compared with each other. The primary outcome of this research is the effect of incidence angles on the energy-absorbing characteristics, as well as some remarkable trade-off design points obtained from various multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. It was discovered that the obtained design points of probabilistic study, which satisfied the reliability constraint, were roughly 60% more robust than deterministic points. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.