Deformation and mechanical properties analysis of metallic hollow spheres under quasi-static compression

Abstract

This study investigates the deformation and mechanical behavior of metallic hollow spheres (MHSs) under quasi-static compression. Quasi-static axial compression simulations on aluminum alloy MHSs of varying diameters and wall thicknesses were conducted using ANSYS. The effects of diameter, wall thickness, and density on deformation modes, mechanical properties, and energy absorption characteristics were analyzed. The results indicate that MHSs experience three deformation stages during quasi-static compression, exhibiting both symmetric and asymmetric indentation modes. With a constant thickness-to-diameter ratio (T/D), MHSs demonstrate consistent deformation patterns and compressive strength, with load-bearing capacity influenced by both diameter and wall thickness. For a fixed diameter, wall thickness becomes the key factor determining compressive strength. Increasing wall thickness significantly enhances shell stiffness and load-bearing capacity, while reducing the risk of sidewall instability. Notably, at a T/D value of 0.03, MHSs display enhanced structural strength due to distinctive structural transformations during compression. Additionally, at a given density, MHSs with larger diameters exhibit higher load-bearing capacity, although this improvement tends to level off when density exceeds a certain threshold. The study also reveals that the initial peak load, average compression load, and energy absorption capacity of MHSs are influenced by both diameter and wall thickness, whereas energy absorption efficiency is primarily determined by the interaction between these parameters. This research provides essential theoretical support for the design and performance optimization of MHSs and offers valuable insights for applications in energy-absorbing structural design.