In this paper, Taguchi statistical method is implemented in the design of energy-absorbing composite shell structures with cylindrical geometry. Six energy-absorbing structure design parameters considered in this study are: geometric parameters including internal diameter, length and thickness; the other parameters are the stacking sequence of layers, fiber reinforcement type and manufacturing process. The first three parameters and the remaining ones have four and two levels respectively. So the orthogonal array L16 (4 ** 3 2 ** 3) was used for analysis of Taguchi. The purpose of design of experiment in this study was to maximize the amount of specific energy absorbed in the structure. The result shows that the stacking sequence of layers and geometry parameter include internal diameter and thickness had an effect on the opposite side, the other parameters had Minimal effect on specific energy absorbing. The first three parameters had most important role in design of energy absorbing structures. Another important result of this analysis was to determine the optimal characteristics of composite energy absorbing shells with stacking sequence of layers (90/0), internal diameter 63 mm, thickness 2 mm, vacuum bag molding process (VB), the fiber reinforcement type carbon and the length 160 mm.