TITLE:
Controlling the Energy Absorption Capability of a Unidirectional Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Tube Using a Double-Sided Plug
AUTHORS:
Masahito Ueda, Takehito Tsuji, Tae-Kun Jeong
KEYWORDS:
Polymer Matrix Composite, Carbon Fiber, Progressive Crushing, Energy Absorption, Crush Can
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Composite Materials,
Vol.5 No.1,
December
31,
2014
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.