Controlling the Energy Absorption Capability of a Unidirectional Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Tube Using a Double-Sided Plug

Masahito Ueda, Takehito Tsuji, Tae-Kun Jeong

Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/ojcm.2015.51006                

Abstract

Quasi-static and dynamic crush tests of a unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) circular tube were performed, and its energy absorption capability was controlled using a double-sided plug. It was revealed in the quasi-static crush test that its energy absorption capability was controlled significantly from 8 to 178 kJ/kg by changing the curvature of the plug. The range of energy absorption covers almost all types of CFRP tube reported in the literature. A dynamic crush test up to 55 km/h was then performed by drop weight impact tests. The energy absorption capability of the CFRP tube in the dynamic crush test was very similar to that in the quasi-static crush test. A simple design concept of energy absorption for a CFRP tube, using the double-sided plug, was proposed.

Keywords

Polymer Matrix Composite, Carbon Fiber, Progressive Crushing, Energy Absorption, Crush Can

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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