In this paper, we investigated the internal structure of the beetle elytra, i.e., two different structural forms I and II of the bio-inspired honeycomb column thin-walled structures (BHTS) that give the honeycomb sandwich structure frequently used in construction projects better mechanical properties and lightweight performance. BHTS specimens were fabricated by additive manufacturing selective laser melting (AM-SLM) using AlSi10Mg Al-Si alloy. In order to understand the effect of section angle number on BHTS during loading, quasi-static uniaxial compression tests were carried out and verified by numerical simulation. The experimental results showed that in the quasi-static uniaxial compression tests, the number of section angles greatly improved the energy absorption (EA) index of each BHTS: the average value of initial peak crushing force (PCF) of hexagonal BHTS increased by 108.82% and 43.44%, respectively, compared to triangular and rectangular BHTS. The average value of the mean crushing force (MCF) increased by 74.87% and 45.48%, respectively. The average value of EA increased by 89.02% and 46.64%, respectively. The results indicate that the number of section angles can be used as an effective way to enhance the EA of BHTS. This work can provide a reference for the design of high-efficiency energy absorbers and will be widely used in EA scenarios such as construction, transportation, etc.

The beetle’s elytra have the characteristics of light weight and high energy absorption (EA). In this paper, based on the internal structure of beetle elytra, two bio-inspired honeycomb column thin-walled structures (BHTS) I and II were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) technology in additive manufacturing (AM) in order to understand the possible influence of strain rate effect (SRE) on the BHTS under low speed uniaxial compression loading. The influence of three different SREs (0.001 s⁻¹, 0.01 s⁻¹ and 0.1 s⁻¹) on the EA of BHTSs specimens during loading was discussed by means of out-of-plane uniaxial compression tests verified with numerical simulations. The experimental results show that SRE has a significant effect on the EA of BHTSs in low speed out-of-plane uniaxial compression tests: SRE can significantly increase the initial peak crushing force (PCF) and specific energy absorption (SEA) of all types of BHTS specimens. The average increase in PCF/SEA under SRE loading of 0.1 s⁻¹ is 12.70%/9.79% and 17.63 %/11.60%, respectively, compared with 0.001 s⁻¹ and 0.01 s⁻¹. These research methods reduce the use of materials and improve the utilization rate of materials, which can provide important assistance for the design, manufacture and modeling of AM-based materials.

In order to protect the reinforced concrete (RC) slab structure from damage under some accidental conditions, such as impacting and explosion, we used bio-inspired honeycomb column thin-walled structure (BHTS) to serve as a buffer interlayer for the concrete structure inspired by the biological structure of beetle’s elytra. The mechanical properties of AlSi10Mg used to fabricate the BHTS buffer interlayer were determined by low- and medium-speed uniaxial compression tests and numerical simulations. Subsequently, based on the drop weight impact test models, the effect of the buffer interlayer on the response of the RC slab under the drop weight tests with different energy input was compared by the impact force and duration, maximum displacement and residual displacement, energy absorption (EA), energy proportion, and other indicators. The results show that the proposed BHTS buffer interlayer has a very significant protection effect on the RC slab under the impact of the drop hammer. Due to its superior performance, the proposed BHTS buffer interlayer provides a promising solution for EA of augmented cellular structures widely used in defensive structural components, such as floor slabs, building walls, etc.