Comprehensive mechanical characterization of prismatic lithium-ion cells

As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly prevalent, ensuring the safety of their battery systems is paramount. Lithium-ion batteries present unique safety challenges due to their high energy density and the potential for failure under certain conditions. There is an extensive amount of research on pouch and cylindrical cells, however, prismatic cells have not received similar attention. This study presents an extensive series of experimental tests conducted on prismatic cells from two different manufacturers. These tests include flat punch, hemispherical punch, axial compression and three-point bending tests, all designed to assess the cells’ mechanical properties and failure behavior. A model was developed simulating the behavior of the cell under local loading scenarios. While this paper focuses primarily on testing methodologies, initial findings and an introductory FEA model, future work will incorporate these experimental results into detailed FEA models across all loading scenarios for further analysis.