Abstract: Buckling modes and the energy absorption effect of thin wall-tubes were optimized. In optimizing, the shape and size of the local surface self-nanocrystallization and the twin spacing were taken as the design variables. The ratio of energy absorption of thin-wall tubes was considered as the objective function, and the limit of maximum impact load, boundary conditions and loading conditions as the constraint conditions. The results show that the method of optimized local surface self-nanocrystallization not only can induce and control steady progressive buckling modes of thin-walled tubes, but also can greatly improve the energy-absorbing properties and keep the shapes of the original structures. In this way, a new design principle and technology of thin-wall tubes of energy absorbing was presented. The maximal effect of energy absorption of thin-wall tubes was achieved and the design idea was proposed for structures of energy absorption.