Objective This study explores design methods for explosion-resistant energy-absorbing core elements in cabin subject to the joint effects of blast-induced shockwave and quasi-static barometric pressure.

Methods Finite element numerical calculations are used to analyze the characteristics of flexing-type and yielding-type energy-absorbing elements in the above conditions in terms of load weakening factor, energy absorption, deformation damage mode and maximum displacement at the center point of the lower panel, and the protective performance characteristics are obtained. On this basis, a dual-stiffness energy-absorbing element is proposed to resist the combined action of blast-induced shockwave and quasi-static barometric pressure and its performance is then compared with that of the two energy-absorbing elements.

Results Under the action of blast-induced shockwave, the load dissipation and energy absorption ability of the yielding-type energy-absorbing element is better than that of the flexing-type energy-absorbing element; under the action of quasi-static barometric pressure, the deformation of the yielding-type energy-absorbing element is greatly affected by the time of action of the load, while the deformation of the flexing-type energy-absorbing element is almost unaffected by the time of action; under the combined action of blast-induced shockwave and quasi-static barometric pressure, the protection ability of the dual-stiffness energy-absorbing element is better than that of the single-stiffness flexing-type and yielding-type energy-absorbing elements.

Conclusion The results of this study can provide a new approach to the design of explosion-resistant configurations in cabins.