Lateral compression behavior of expanded polypropylene foam–filled carbon and glass fiber composite tubes

Abstract

Abstract The crashworthiness and deformation behavior of circular composite tubes that were internally supported with expanded polypropylene (EPP) foams were investigated under lateral compression tests. Carbon woven (CFRP) and glass woven fiber/epoxy (GFRP) composites and EPP foam with densities of 30, 60, and 75 kg·m−3 were used. According to results, empty CFRP and GFRP tubes absorbed almost the same amount of energy; however, the GFRP tube had a higher specific energy absorption value due to its lower weight compared to the CFRP tube. EPP foam filling has a more significant effect on the crashworthiness of CFRP tubes compared to GFRP tubes. The best results in CFRP tubes, in terms of specific energy absorption, were obtained as 2.67 J g−1 at 75 kg·m−3 EPP foam-filled sample; however, 60 kg·m−3 EPP foam–filled sample exhibited the best configuration in terms of force efficiency. For the GFRP tubes, the best configuration was obtained at 60 kg·m−3 EPP foam–filled sample for all of the crashworthiness parameters. It is seen that the crushable length of composite tubes was shortened with the increase of EPP foam density. Lastly, the deformation behaviors of composite tubes showed that the CFRP tubes were more brittle than the GFRP tubes.