Based on the elastic beam theory, the failure mechanism of hierarchical corrugated structure with a second-order core under local failure defects was studied. Firstly, through the force analysis of the original structural system of the hierarchical corrugated structure with a second-order core and the structural system under local failure defects, six failure mechanisms of the structure were obtained, and the corresponding nominal force expressions of each failure mechanism were given. Then the failure mechanism diagram was drawn according to t...