Energy-absorption assessments of perforated CFRP tube induced by inward-splaying trigger with different trigger radius

Abstract

For different purposes of engineering design, CFRP structure inevitably be processed with open holes, resulting in the discontinuity of fiber or matrix and reducing structural performance. To improve crashworthiness, the crushing behaviors of perforated CFRP tube with different trigger radius based Inward-Splaying Triggers (IST) are studied. The finite element method with the non-linearly progressive damage model is adopted for verifications and numerical investigations. The improve effect and trigger mechanisms of IST on the perforated tube is revealed by comparing with original tube. To extensively reveal the energy-absorption (EA) behaviors, the analyses of parameters including trigger radius, radius and position of open-hole are investigated. It is found that increasing open-hole radius can aggravate hole circumferential fracture and position of open-hole has significant effect on EA of tube with IST. By comparisons, any perforated tube with IST has higher total EA than intact tube. It is indicated that much improvements of EA are attributed to the fact that a transition from hole circumferential fracture to progressive crushing can be achieved by IST, leading to more adequate energy dissipation of materials. Several crucial conclusions from the parameter analyses are drawn for guiding the perforated structural design and improving crashworthiness.