Functionally Graded Biomimetic Energy Absorption Concept Development for Transportation Systems

This study shows how many lessons can be learned from a study of biological systems that are applicable to engineering applications. The proposed research applies the observations from the study of tendon-to-bone insertion site conducted by PI with his colleagues at the School of Medicine at Washington University to a development of a robust and resilient functionally graded cylindrical sandwich shock absorber. The concept utilizes concentric foam shells of variable mass density constrained within a stiffer outer shell that reduces radial deformations of the assembly under axial shock. As was demonstrated for both biological tissues (e.g., the tendon-to-bone insertion site) and for engineering materials (metals, ceramics, composites), a lower stiffness material possesses a higher resilience and toughness. In the considered concept, the project maximizes the energy dissipation of the assembly by grading the foam shells utilizing variable mass density (and accordingly, variable stiffness and strength) of foam. The energy absorption is maximized, while maintaining the prescribed deformation as well as the necessary strength of the system.

• Record URL:
  http://transportation.mst.edu/research/r354/

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $23203.00
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT06-G-0014

  00042768

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla

  328 Butler-Carlton Hall
  1401 N. Pine Street
  Rolla, MO  United States  65401
• Principal Investigators:

  Birman, Victor

• Start Date: 20130501
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20131231
• Source Data: RiP Project 34940

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Civil engineering; Energy absorption; Sandwich construction; Shock absorbers; Stiffness; Tendons; Toughness
• Uncontrolled Terms: Transportation systems
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Marine Transportation; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01517402
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies
• Contract Numbers: DTRT06-G-0014, 00042768
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 7 2014 1:01AM