Experimental design of a folded-structure energy-absorption system

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper describes the design and analysis of an energy-absorption-system container made of chevron-pattern folded paper for the purpose of encasing supplies to be dropped from moving aircraft without using a parachute. A mathematical model of the energy absorption system is developed. The constitutive properties of the system are ascertained experimentally, and the system is tested by dropping containers with different types of cargo and from the different altitudes and aircraft speeds without a parachute. Test results in a laboratory and actual drop tests from moving aircraft demonstrate that this energy-absorption system manufactured using the paper-folding machine, built at the Rutgers University, absorb the impact energy of the drop and protect the cargo from the collision forces that are encountered when the dropped container impacts the ground and tumbles. It is shown that the design can successfully protect items with different fragilities inside containers dropped from different altitudes up to 30 m with aircraft speeds up to 70 KIAS.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)341-362
Number of pages22
JournalInternational Journal of Materials and Product Technology
Volume56
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Keywords

  • Chevron structure
  • Cushion
  • Energy-absorption
  • Folded-structures
  • Freedrop
  • Honeycomb structures
  • Impact energy
  • Isotropy

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