Static and Dynamic Energy-Absorption Capacity of Graphite-Epoxy Tubular Specimens

Abstract

This article examines the energy-absorption capacity of 50k and 12k carbon fiber composite tubular specimens crushed axially, in both quasi-static and dynamic fashions. Round and square tubular specimens with - 45° and - 45°/0° fiber orientation schemes were studied. The fundamental issue was to compare the energy-absorption capacity of the lower-cost 50k material with the 12k material, and to examine the influence of specimen geometry, fiber orientation schemes, and dynamic effects on the energyabsorption characteristics. Specimens made from the 50k material absorbed less energy than similar specimens made with the 12k material, and the load ratios were generally higher for the 50k specimens. The square specimens tended to have lower values of specific energy absorption (SEA) than the circular specimens. In addition, the crush modes were somewhat different and the load ratios were generally higher for the square specimens than for the circular specimens. Changing the fiber orientation schemes did not have much of an effect on the SEA, nor on the crush modes, but the presence of 0° fibers led to higher load ratios for the 50k specimens. The specimens tested dynamically had lower SEAs and higher load ratios than similar specimens that were tested statically.