Impact performance of plate-like topological interlocking structures: Interlocking metrics for diverse designs

Wang, S; Xie, YM; Zhang, YX; Lin, X

Impact performance of plate-like topological interlocking structures: Interlocking metrics for diverse designs

Wang, S Xie, YM Zhang, YX Lin, X

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Engineering Structures, 2025, 344, pp. 121390
Issue Date:: 2025-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Wang, S
dc.contributor.author	Xie, YM
dc.contributor.author	Zhang, YX
dc.contributor.author	Lin, X
dc.date.accessioned	2025-12-18T02:52:44Z
dc.date.available	2025-12-18T02:52:44Z
dc.date.issued	2025-12-01
dc.identifier.citation	Engineering Structures, 2025, 344, pp. 121390
dc.identifier.issn	0141-0296
dc.identifier.issn	1873-7323
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190978
dc.description.abstract	Topological interlocking (TI) structures emerge as a promising design strategy for advanced engineering applications, offering enhanced energy dissipation and localised failure modes. This study investigates the impact performance of plate-like TI structures composed of elements with curved interfaces, focusing on the effects of two distinct geometric design factors: base polygon shape and interface morphology. Four interlocking metrics, including contact area, contact area ratio, Gaussian curvature, and critical inclination angle factor, are proposed to quantitatively assess the mechanical performance of these structures. Finite element simulations are employed to evaluate their behaviour under various drop heights, analysing energy dissipation, stress distribution, and deformation characteristics. Simulation results reveal that the base polygon shape significantly influences contact area and load transfer efficiency, while interface morphology affects stress dispersion and deformation behaviour. Strong correlations are found between the proposed geometric metrics, including contact area, contact area ratio, and critical inclination angle factor, and key mechanical responses like energy dissipation and maximum displacement. In particular, larger critical inclination angle factors promote broader stress propagation and improve energy absorption. Additionally, regions with high Gaussian curvature align with stress concentrations and failure initiation, providing a basis for predicting failure zones and guiding reinforcement design. These findings provide a quantitative foundation for optimising TI structures under impact loading.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Engineering Structures
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121390
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0905 Civil Engineering, 0912 Materials Engineering, 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Civil Engineering
dc.subject.classification	4005 Civil engineering
dc.subject.classification	4016 Materials engineering
dc.title	Impact performance of plate-like topological interlocking structures: Interlocking metrics for diverse designs
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	344
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering
utslib.for	0912 Materials Engineering
utslib.for	0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-12-18T02:52:42Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	344

Abstract:

Topological interlocking (TI) structures emerge as a promising design strategy for advanced engineering applications, offering enhanced energy dissipation and localised failure modes. This study investigates the impact performance of plate-like TI structures composed of elements with curved interfaces, focusing on the effects of two distinct geometric design factors: base polygon shape and interface morphology. Four interlocking metrics, including contact area, contact area ratio, Gaussian curvature, and critical inclination angle factor, are proposed to quantitatively assess the mechanical performance of these structures. Finite element simulations are employed to evaluate their behaviour under various drop heights, analysing energy dissipation, stress distribution, and deformation characteristics. Simulation results reveal that the base polygon shape significantly influences contact area and load transfer efficiency, while interface morphology affects stress dispersion and deformation behaviour. Strong correlations are found between the proposed geometric metrics, including contact area, contact area ratio, and critical inclination angle factor, and key mechanical responses like energy dissipation and maximum displacement. In particular, larger critical inclination angle factors promote broader stress propagation and improve energy absorption. Additionally, regions with high Gaussian curvature align with stress concentrations and failure initiation, providing a basis for predicting failure zones and guiding reinforcement design. These findings provide a quantitative foundation for optimising TI structures under impact loading.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190978