Optimization of bio-inspired bi-directionally corrugated panel impact-resistance structures: Numerical simulation and selective laser melting process

Abstract The telson (tail plate) of Stomatopoda (mantis shrimp) shows excellent impact resistance properties, and its special structure is an ideal prototype to mimic. In this paper, a series of bi-directionally corrugated panel (DCP) structures inspired by the telson of mantis shrimp was designed. The crush simulation of DCP structures with different structural parameters, namely wavelength ( λ ) and amplitude ( A ), was carried out using ANSYS LS-DYNA. In order to verify the simulation results, AlSi10Mg components with DCP structures were fabricated by selective laser melting and the out-of-plane compression tests were conducted to investigate the compression performance. The numerical simulation results indicated that the influence of wavelength of DCP structure on the energy absorption (EA) and specific energy absorption ( SEA ) capability was greater than that of the amplitude, and the DCP structure with A  = 8 mm and λ  = 6 mm possessed the best impact resistance performance. The SLM-processed AlSi10Mg components with DCP structures showed high surface quality and good forming accuracy, and the relation between experimental compression behavior and the DCP structure parameter was in good agreement with the numerical results.