A novel tube-beam interwoven lattice structure with synergistic energy absorption and tailored deformation

This paper proposes a novel tube-beam interwoven lattice structure (TBILS), which achieves synergistic energy absorption (EA) and controllable deformation behavior through the three-dimensional topological integration of thin-walled square tubes and a spatial beam lattice. The accuracy of the model is validated through a combined experimental and finite element simulation approach. The mechanical response, deformation mechanisms, dynamic impact performance, and regulatory effects of geometric parameters on TBILS under quasi-static compression are systematically investigated. The results show that TBILS exhibits a unique double-plateau progressive crushing mechanism and a strain-rate strengthening effect. Its mechanical response can be flexibly tuned through geometric parameters. When used as a filling material for thin-walled tubes under an equivalent collision speed of 15 km h −1 , TBILS demonstrates low maximum peak force and high EA efficiency, outperforming conventional multi-cell tubes and re-entrant honeycomb-filled structures. This validates its potential for applications in the field of impact protection.