Design of Negative Poisson's Ratio Metamaterial Filling Structures for Train Anti-climb Energy Absorbers

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-132X.2025.12.029

Abstract

Abstract:

The existing train anti-climbing energy-absorbing structures had low energy absorption and unpredictable deformation patterns， and were highly susceptible to bending under complex boundary conditions， resulting in a significant decrease in energy absorption and accompanying the risk of climbing and derailment. In order to solve these problems， a negative Poisson's ratio metamaterial was proposed based on an improved topology optimization method and applied to the filling structures of train energy absorbers. Firstly， a negative Poisson's ratio metamaterial was designed by the improved solid isotropic material with penalization， and the samples were prepared by laser selective melting processes， which verified the stable negative Poisson's ratio deformation mode and excellent energy absorption properties， and then the energy absorber filler structures were formed by tensile and periodic arrangement. The specific energy absorption of the proposed negative Poisson's ratio structures is 17.9% higher than that of the conventional honeycomb structures under centric and 40 mm eccentric conditions， and the specific energy absorption degradation rate is significantly lower than that of the conventional structures under eccentric conditions.

Key words: anti-climb energy absorber, topology optimization, negative Poisson's ratio, metamaterial

摘要：

现有的列车防爬吸能结构吸能量较低且变形模式难以预测，在复杂工况下极易发生弯曲，造成吸能量的大幅下降并伴随爬车和脱轨的风险。基于改进的拓扑优化方法提出了一种将负泊松比超材料应用于列车吸能器填充结构上的方法。首先采用改进的具有惩罚因子的实体各向同性材料设计了一种负泊松比超材料，通过激光选区熔融工艺制备了样件，并验证了样件稳定的负泊松比变形模式和优良的能量吸收特性。随后通过拉伸、周期排列形成了吸能器填充结构，在对心和40 mm偏心工况下，所提出的负泊松比结构的比吸能与传统的蜂窝结构相比高出了17.9%，且在偏心工况下，比吸能劣化率明显低于传统结构。

关键词: 防爬吸能器, 拓扑优化, 负泊松比, 超材料

CLC Number:

TH112

Kun HE, Hechao ZHOU, Jimin ZHANG. Design of Negative Poisson's Ratio Metamaterial Filling Structures for Train Anti-climb Energy Absorbers[J]. China Mechanical Engineering, 2025, 36(12): 3040-3046.

何昆, 周和超, 张济民. 列车防爬吸能器负泊松比超材料填充结构设计[J]. 中国机械工程, 2025, 36(12): 3040-3046.

Figures/Tables 11

Fig.1 Topology optimization results

Tab.1 Topology optimization iterative process

序号	迭代过程
1
2
3
4

Tab.2 Four negative Poisson's ratio structural deformation modes

结构	t=0	t=0.004 s	t=0.008 s	t=0.01 s
1
2
3
4

Tab.3 Energy absorption parameters of negative Poisson's ratio structures

结构	质量/g	吸能量/kJ	比吸能/（J·g $- 1$ ）	初始峰值碰撞力/kN
1	256	2.97	11.59	10.5
2	272	4.94	18.17	14.5
3	236	3.38	14.32	16.4
4	326	5.57	17.08	20.2

Tab.3 Energy absorption parameters of negative Poisson's ratio structures

结构	质量/g	吸能量/kJ	比吸能/（J·g $- 1$ ）	初始峰值碰撞力/kN
1	256	2.97	11.59	10.5
2	272	4.94	18.17	14.5
3	236	3.38	14.32	16.4
4	326	5.57	17.08	20.2

Fig.2 Quasi-static compression test and simulation

Fig.3 Comparison of quasi-static compression experiment and simulation

Fig.4 Modeling process of energy absorber

Fig.5 Crash response under centering condition

Fig.6 Crash response under 72 km/h

Fig.7 Crash response under eccentricity condition

Tab.4 Crash response parameters of two types of energy absorbers under different operating conditions

结构	工况	吸能量/kJ	比吸能/（J·g $- 1$ ）	比吸能劣化率/%
所提结构	对心	1157.9	30.1	2.3
所提结构	偏心	1127.2	29.4	2.3
蜂窝结构	对心	718.1	26.2	7.6
蜂窝结构	偏心	662.9	24.2	7.6

Tab.4 Crash response parameters of two types of energy absorbers under different operating conditions

结构	工况	吸能量/kJ	比吸能/（J·g $- 1$ ）	比吸能劣化率/%
所提结构	对心	1157.9	30.1	2.3
所提结构	偏心	1127.2	29.4	2.3
蜂窝结构	对心	718.1	26.2	7.6
蜂窝结构	偏心	662.9	24.2	7.6

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