Mechanical and cushioning behaviors of knitted stainless steel mesh damper under cyclic and impact loading

To effectively reduce the recoil force generated by pyrotechnic launching devices during operation, this study applies a knitted stainless steel metal wire mesh damper (MWMD) to pyrotechnic launching systems and analyzes its mechanical behavior and buffering performance. Through quasi-static cyclic compression tests and numerical simulations, the effects of wire diameter (d) and relative density (ρ) of MWMD on its mechanical and rebound characteristics were investigated, along with its impact on recoil force in shock tests. The results demonstrate that MWMDs with smaller wire diameters (d) and lower relative densities (ρ) exhibit more cyclic loading cycles and superior rebound performance. Simulation data reveal that MWMDs with smaller wire diameters and higher relative densities display stronger resistance to repeated impacts under multiple cyclic shocks, demonstrating excellent energy absorption capability with an efficiency of up to 37.59%. According to impact test results, the MWMD reduces the peak recoil force from 42757.38 to 25701.47 N, achieving an energy absorption efficiency of 39.89%. The discrepancy between experimental and simulated results is minimal, with only a 5.75% discrepancy, the finite element model is validated, confirming the MWMD’s effectiveness in mitigating recoil forces as a buffer in pyrotechnic launching devices.