Recent Advances in Crashworthiness of Thin-Walled Metallic Beams Under Bending Loads

Thin-walled beams are widely used in various industrial fields, and their bending collapse is one of the most important energy absorption mechanisms. Researchers have extensively explored the bending characteristics of thin-walled metallic beams with various configurations. Numerous experimental and numerical investigations have been carried out to analyze their deformation modes and evaluate the effects of key factors on their performance. Different approaches have been attempted to improve the energy absorption efficiency of thin-walled metallic beams under bending loads, including cellular material filling, composite wrapping, functionally graded thickness design, multi-cell or cellular sections, and arched profile design. This paper reviews the recent advances in the energy absorption responses of thin-walled metallic beams and their reinforced counterparts under bending collapse. The review aims to provide comprehensive resources for researchers and engineers to understand the progress in research on the bending behaviors of thin-walled beams, while inspiring innovative approaches for their analysis and design under bending loads.