Inspired　by　the　microstructure　of　the　beetle＇s　elytra,　a　new　bionic　polycellular　tube　protective　structure　based　on　the　fractal　principle　was　proposed　in　this　paper,　and　its　energy　absorption　characteristics　were　studied.　Firstly,　the　typical　microstructures　of　two-branch　structure　(type　A),　three-branch　structure　(type　B)　and　mixed-branch　structure　(type　C)　of　the　beetle＇s　elytra　were　extracted.　Based　on　that,　three　types　of　the　bionic　multicellular　thin-walled　circular　tube　(BMTC)　were　designed,　and　the　reliability　of　finite　element　models　was　verified　by　experiments.　Secondly,　the　energy　absorption　characteristics　and　crushing　mechanism　of　three　groups　of　BMTCs　were　compared　and　analyzed　by　LS-DYNA　software,　and　the　analytical　expression　of　mean　crushing　force　(Fm)　for　BMTCs　was　established.　The　results　show　that　the　energy　absorption　structures　of　type　B　have　better　comprehensive　energy　absorption　characteristics.　Compared　with　the　traditional　ribbed　structure,　specific　energy　absorption　(SEA)　of　BMTCs　is　increased　by　36.75　%.　In　addition,　when　the　central　column　is　connected　to　the　three　ribs,　the　central　column　has　the　best　deformation　resistance.　Moreover,　the　theoretical　solutions　matched　well　with　the　results　of　numerical　simulation.　Consequently,　the　research　results　provide　inspiration　for　the　design　of　energy　absorption　protection　devices,　and　theoretical　guidance　for　the　analysis　of　energy　absorption　characteristics.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd