Purpose This study aims to enhance the energy absorption performance of thin-walled filled structures by integrating pattern design, material filling, and surface strengthening. Design/methodology/approach Circumferential octagonal laser shock peening (LSP) patterns were combined with foam filling in 304 stainless steel thin-walled structures. Using peak crushing force (PCF) and specific energy absorption (SEA) as indicators, systematic tensile and axial compression tests were conducted. Based on experimental data, a response surface surrogate model was established. An improved multi-objective black-winged kite optimization algorithm was employed to optimize LSP strip height ratio, longitudinal ratio, and foam density. Algorithm performance was compared using HV, IGD, Spacing, and Speed metrics. The optimal configuration was selected via weighted decision-making and experimentally verified. Findings Tensile tests confirmed LSP increases yield strength from 275.2 MPa to 358.4 MPa and tensile strength from 664 MPa to 683 MPa. Axial compression tests revealed that compared to untreated structures, LSP-treated structures maintained similar PCF while SEA increased by 11.32%. Compared to non-filled structures, foam-filled structures showed 28.51% higher PCF and 31.96% higher SEA. The improved optimization algorithm outperformed the original across all metrics. The optimal configuration yielded relative errors below 5% between predicted and experimental PCF and SEA. Originality/value By integrating pattern design, material filling, and surface strengthening, this study achieves significant improvement in thin-walled structure energy absorption, providing experimental and theoretical foundations for related energy-absorbing component design and optimization.
Xiao et al. (Tue,) studied this question.