Study on the Impact Resistance of a Rib-reinforced Bio-inspired Truss-Honeycomb Structure Inspired by Spider Webs, Honeycombs, and Bird Beaks

Inspired by spider webs, honeycomb structures, and bird beaks, this study designs a novel multilevel composite thin-walled structure integrating bio-inspired ribs, hexagonal honeycombs, and triangular trusses. Finite element (FE) simulations demonstrate that the proposed structure exhibits exceptional crashworthiness; its specific energy absorption (SEA) reaches 30.60 kJ/kg with an impact force efficiency (IFE) of 84.67%. Compared to the typical multilevel hedgehog spine structure reported in the literature, the SEA is enhanced by approximately 71.9%, showcasing significant energy absorption potential and load stability.Structural parameters were optimized through an orthogonal experimental design to achieve a balanced trade-off between maximizing SEA and minimizing the maximum impact force (MIF). Quasi-static compression tests further confirm the design's physical feasibility. Although the specimens exhibited asymmetric deformation due to the inherent characteristics of the 3D printing process, the macroscopic load-bearing trends remained logically consistent with the steady-state failure characteristics predicted by numerical simulations.Mechanism analysis reveals that the bio-inspired ribs effectively homogenize stress distribution and alleviate stress concentration, thereby ensuring a stable energy dissipation mechanism. Through a comprehensive "design-optimization-validation" workflow, this study provides a quantitative reference for the development of high-performance rib-reinforced bio-inspired truss-honeycomb structures.