Multiobjective crashworthiness optimization design of functionally graded foam-filled tapered tube based on dynamic ensemble metamodel

Foam-filled thin-walled structures have recently gained attention with increasing interest due to their excellent energy absorption capacity. In this study, a new type of foam-filled thin-walled structure called as functionally graded foam-filled tapered tube (FGFTT) is proposed. FGFTT consists of graded density foam and thin-walled tapered tube. In order to investigate the energy absorption characteristics of FGFTTs, the numerical simulations for two kinds of FGFTTs subjected to axial dynamical loading are carried out by nonlinear finite element code LS-DYNA. In addition, a new kind of multiobjective crashworthiness optimization method employing the dynamic ensemble metamodeling method together with the multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm is presented. This new kind of multiobjective crashworthiness optimization method is then used to implement the crashworthiness optimization design of FGFTTs. Meanwhile, the crashworthiness optimization designs of FGFTTs are implemented by using traditional multiobjective crashworthiness optimization method, which employs metamodels such as polynomial response surface (PRS), radial basis function (RBF), kriging (KRG), support vector regression (SVR) or the ensemble with the static design of experiment (DOE). Finally, by comparing the optimal designs of FGFTTs obtained by using the new multiobjective crashworthiness optimization method and the traditional one, the results show that the proposed new crashworthiness optimization method is more feasible. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.